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This is the magical time of year at Devils Lake, North Dakota. Waterfowl season is open. Walleye season is always open. Birds are flying and fish are biting.
The good news is this will continue until early December or first-ice. “The duck hunting has been good, geese too, but the mass migration hasn’t yet kicked in,” said duck and goose guide and walleye tournament winner and guide Jason Feldner (percheyes.com). “Canada goose hunting has been really good, and with a daily limit of eight birds and 24 in possession, hunters are really having fun.”
While talking with fellow hunters, Feldner said that the majority of the ducks and geese that typically fly to the Devils Lake region are staging in the flooded Saskatchewan grain fields. “Right now, it’s a mixed bag of some teal, mallards and divers. Within the final two weeks of October, make plans to be in Devils Lake,” he said. Based on the western end of Devils Lake in Minnewaukan, his guides handle waterfowl hunters in mornings and chase walleyes and pike in afternoons. “Our clients stay at our lodge during the super popular Cast and Blast season. Guides spend late afternoons and early evenings scouting for the best spots the next morning. We go where the birds are, and that could be anywhere in a 40-mile radius of the lodge,” he said.
His operation is similar to many other area full-service lodge and guide services. Jason Mitchell, TV host with a large stable of respected hunting and fishing guides also caters to the Cast and Blast late-season crowd (jasonmitchelloutdoors.com). “Devils Lake combines some of the best waterfowl hunting with some of the best fishing in the entire nation,” he said.
His clients stay at Woodland Resort (woodlandresort.com) which has offered waterfowl and fishing packages for decades. “Much of the hunting is done over field spreads. After a morning hunting and a solid lunch, they are ready for afternoon walleyes. Devils Lake has fished extremely well through the summer, and that is continuing into a solid fall pattern. This is the best time to catch the biggest walleyes in the lake,” Mitchell said.
Mark Bry (brysguideservice.com) also offers Cast and Blast packages. He said, “The best chance at an 8 to 10 pound walleye is now. Trolling cranks or jigging Raps over rocks or fishing in current areas near bridges are high-percentage spots. The duck and goose hunts have been very successful so far, but the best time for ducks and geese is about to happen.”
Local fishing guide and World Walleye champion Johnnie Candle (johnniecandle.com) said, “The worst hunting weather is the best giant-walleye fishing weather. Dead calm, sunny, bluebird days are the times walleyes go nuts. The summer season was fantastic and the fall bite is incredible. I don’t chase ducks, but this is my time to guide clients to really trophy walleyes.”
With the next big cold front, perhaps with some snow, but with gusty north winds, Devils Lake will be home for hundreds of thousands of migrating ducks and geese. “Stay at an outfitters lodge, at any of the area motels or the casino, but try to squeeze in a Cast and Blast trip, even if for only a few days yet this fall,” Candle said.
The website devilslakend.com features up-to-date reports with emphasis on the current fishing activity and hunting conditions. Also, the site contains a new pike de-boning video plus contact info for guides, resorts, lodging and restaurants. In addition, learn about ramps, fish-cleaning stations, open water and ice tournaments and community events. A helpful map serves as a great reference tool. For personal assistance, call 701-662-4903, and talk to a friendly and knowledgeable North Dakotan who was probably on Devils Lake yesterday.
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Hyperlinks for Online Story
Online Story (click here for the online story)
Photos attached to email.
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Devils Lake, ND News
Contact Devils Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau for Info/Interviews
Suzie Kenner, Executive Director Devils Lake CVB
701-662-4903 or 701-351-4159
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