The Decline of Devils Lake

[Kurtr]

When OAHE was at it's record lows in the 00's the habitat from the acres and acres of riverbottom produced the best pheasant hunting I ever had or ever will have. I was young enough to go out after work and had a stepson in HS that kept me going too. The fishing was also ver very good. In the spring we could go out after work and troll cranks upstream in the current and limit on all males from 22 to 16 inches. The summer we had to go to Mobridge but they upped the limit to 14 and it was easy to limit with 28, 42, or even 56 fish. I know they were all under 15 but still. I wore out 2 fillet knives in the 2000's

Also the amount of 180" deer on those bottoms was wild. I suspect a bunch of deer never seen a human those years

 

[Jiffy]

We must be about the same age because I know exactly what you’re talking about.

I’m from the same area, just a bit north of you

 

[Ruttin]

I know the G&F plan on taking a bunch of perch from the SE ND sloughs/lakes and stocking DL with them. Not sure when this is going to occur though.

 

[Rowdie]

Also the amount of 180" deer on those bottoms was wild. I suspect a bunch of deer never seen a human those years

In the fall, between goose, pheasant, deer hunting, and shore fishing walleye, I didn't have time enough to fit it all in. One day we limited on geese that morning. I took a nap before cleaning them and the step-son took the 4-wheeler down to the river channel. He calls and wakes me up saying he's catching fish. So I drag my ass down there and they were NICE 20 inchers!. We never shot any huge bucks those years but the deer were taking advantage of the habitat as well. We easily filled out tags every year.

 

[Duckslayer100]

I'm constantly flabbergasted by the fixation of perch. To spend money to transfer them from one body to another-- sloughs that were likely stocked with perch in the first place -- especially Devils Lake, just makes me shake my head.

 

[Duckslayer100]

Can we at least drop the Perch limit to 10 like it is for other panfish? This is the year that new regulations come out.

I think especially with FFS, something needs to be done. Every guide has one, and once the word gets out about a local little slough or Lake within 45 minutes of DL, they all swarm like buzzards.

 

[camper]

I know the G&F plan on taking a bunch of perch from the SE ND sloughs/lakes and stocking DL with them. Not sure when this is going to occur though.

I heard that they did this to Hobart by Valley City.

 

[Davy Crockett]

Question : If there are that many guides that they are depleting the resource then why doesn't NDGF manage the resource like any other game and outlaw guiding on DL for 2 years ?

Answer : Tourism.

 

[Rut2much]

I know the G&F plan on taking a bunch of perch from the SE ND sloughs/lakes and stocking DL with them. Not sure when this is going to occur though.

kinda like the deer herd decimation around 2005, going completely backwards and many precious years wasted (some of those for outdoorsmen near or at their outdoor twilight years)
I just want to see residents of the state who reside here all year long get treated to the benefits we deserve and that goes with all states and their own residents. Seeing our resources raped for the almighty dollar isn't and hasn't been working for decades now.

 

[Kurtr]

After the flood of 97 and all the good perch lakes popping up in Ne Sodak we took the limit down to 10 seems to have kept alot of those lakes healthy. 10 12-14 inch perch is a good meal

 

[huntemup]

Again if G&F doesn't do something about the limits on fish regardless of species every lake will see a decline in fishing. Put a slot limit on walleye, increase the NR fee, and close the damn season during the peak spawning period when the fish are the most vulnerable. DL is in decline Sak is in decline in the middle to east end and it will soon be the same on the west end. These fish can only take so much pressure. Time for G&F to wake up.

 

[RyanN]

I do believe ND Tourism has some say in what happens with NDGF. I don't know if the DL Chamber of Commerce has a big voice when it comes to some regulations. I believe they have some impact on some of those decisions though. ND Tourism wants people to come to ND, so do most of the local businesses. How doesn't that impact decisions made by NDGF?

I also think declining water levels and predation have really hurt perch and pike populations, especially in Devils Lake/Stump Lake. Jason Mitchell's comments on that I think are spot on. Biology agrees.

Reducing perch limit to ten - if anyone fishes deeper than 30', and practice "selective harvest", all those small fish will probably die anyway. Almost have to make a law about fishing in certain depths where you have to keep fish - almost impossible to enforce/monitor though.

FFS - I don't believe FFS has a major impact on perch or walleye fishing. Do I think it helps? Sure. But it doesn't guarantee anything. I don't think there's enough "weekend warriors" using it to make a dent in any population. I also think the serious angler that uses it is more than likely practicing ethical catch and release. Not all, but most.

For me, the jury is still out as far as guides having an impact on fish populations. They have to take out A LOT of fish before making a dent in the population in a lake the size of Devils. Predation and water levels have way more impact, in my opinon.