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.

 

[Obi-Wan]

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.

Why don't they require the guides to have tags for every fish they are paid to harvest. make them purchase the tags and limit the # of tags each guide can have.

 

[Jiffy]

I have never understood the concept of making money off of wildlife/fish.

Understood is probably not the correct word. Agreed with is more correct.

I’m undoubtedly in the minority. It’s been my mantra for decades and it’s fallen on mostly deaf ears.

$$$$$$ tends to make one hard of hearing

 

[Colt45]

I have never understood the concept of making money off of wildlife/fish.

Understood is probably not the correct word. Agreed with is more correct.

I’m undoubtedly in the minority. It’s been my mantra for decades and it’s fallen on mostly deaf ears.

$$$$$$ tends to make one hard of hearing

Right on! This is why they state pushes "Tourism" and the supposed money it brings, its all about the money and people will pay someone else to hunt and fish with

 

[1lessdog]

I really don't think it's nonresident that fishing and taking their limits home that is causing the down fall of the fish population. I have family members on Devils Lake that I call the meat fisherman. They go to the lake Thurs afternoon and fish till Sunday afternoon. Friday, and Saturday they go out in the morning and catch there limit. Then go back in the afternoon and do the samething. They are up at Devils Lake every weekend all summer and falls. Catching 100's of fish over there limit. Because no one checks them. And there not the only ones doing it. I'm sure there are nonresident that abuse the limits. Look at all the campers along D.L. and watch how many times they hit the water everyday.

The meat fisherman are the worst kind.

 

[Traxion]

4 walleye 10 perch is reasonable. Slot limits are feel good measures but scientific research shows little overall effect. I do like SD one over 20” rule as a middle ground for walleye. But a 10” gill or 14” perch is equivalent to a 28” walleye. So how do you protect them? Lower limits imo.

 

[Davy Crockett]

Too little and too late from NDGF , It's not that long ago that perch in ND were non game fish no limit at all. Another thing is most out of state fishermen I'v been close to needed a kick in the nuts and sent back home to fish the waters that they ruined there. One time a guy in a MN boat that was crowding us for shoreline caught a dink walleye and rather than take the hook out and release he yanked the hook out and threw it hard straight down,trying to kill it . One guy in our boat said something and his reply was

" The Northerns gotta eat too" No respect .

 

[Kurtr]

this nr went and fished for 3 days this winter and didnt take a single walleye fillet home with me.

 

[Walleye202]

The maddening part to me as a local DL angler is the total lack of action from the NDGF. The amount of fishing pressure put on DL year round for the past 25 years is heavy. One unique thing about DL especially walleyes and even so to the perch is that 20-30% of the lake holds 70% of the fish. The massive change with technology and communication has greatly increased how fast these spots get hammered and wiped out. I do think there needs to be some regs on the guiding side a bit with the explosion of numbers that has happened. There also needs to be limits lowered. But up to this point, we continue on without any thought of changing which is disappointing.