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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Walleye202" data-source="post: 443522" data-attributes="member: 1554">This has been years in the making but I believe we are truly seeing the repercussions currently of it. I think if a person thinks back 10 years to what has been going on in Devils Lake it starts to make sense. We are currently in the midst of a very tough ice season on Devils Lake, Weather no doubt has been a challenge this year but there remains pretty big issues with the "Perch Capital Of The World". I firmly believe that the perch simply are not there in numbers anymore on DL. The G&F has not stocked any perch in DL in many, many years and the results are now showing themselves. Ice fishing is not the same as it was even 10 years ago with the massive advancement in technology and now wide use of forward facing sonar technology. Currently there are MANY guides operating on DL and the constant "perch problem" is being talked about. With the absence of perch, the focus turns to walleyes which are also starting to feel the effect of increased angling in my opinion.The NDGF has operated under a "minimal restriction" method in regards to Devils Lake for many, many years. No regulations on size, no regulations on fishing timeframes, no regulations on the numbers of guides and outfitters and no stocking of the yellow perch. I firmly believe that the NDGF needs to change their operating plan for Devils Lake. I asked 5 years ago at the spring advisory meeting on the status of the Devils Lake perch population. NDGF Fisheries Chief Greg Power's response was that we needed more water in Devils Lake to flood vegetation. Now remember, 5 years ago we were less than 10 years from the all time high in DL and if you go back 30 years, 25+ FEET above that level when Devils Lake had a booming yellow perch fishery going on.I question the creel studies done on DL and seriously question the management plan on this lake. There remains many walleyes but the general size is in decline with most of the pressure now on walleyes with the absence of perch. I look forward to future advisory meetings and would like to hear something from the NDGF on the results of their current management. The fishing deal has changed greatly. Non residents largely hire guides and are taken to the fish that exist. Gone are the days that many come and look for fish on their own. Currently there are over 150 winter guides operating on Devils Lake during the ice season. For the future of this fishery when history would suggest we continue to trend lower with lake levels, I really think some focus needs to be put on and ramp up stocking efforts and in the meantime look at different management strategies than what have been practiced for the last 15 years.I have ice fished Devils Lake for 25 years and it has changed greatly. I, along with others hope to see some change on this body of water.</blockquote>

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