ND Live Fishing Reports

Fishing reports are updated every Friday and follow the ND Live radio program heard throughout North Dakota

Greg Schoneck

24 inch Fish Were Released With a Similar Sized Smile

It seems it takes a bulldozer to push me into trying new locations. I get comfortable with places I’ve fished before. There is a long list of ND lakes with reports of big walleyes and no fishing pressure. We have so much to offer, so much to discover.

Lake Irving is connected by a series of flooded roads and bridges to Pelican which is located on the NW corner of Devils Lake. Not a big lake in size or depth but it is big in fish quality and quantity. If Devils Lake has it, Irving has it. Northern, Perch, White Bass and Walleye.

Jesse and I pushed off mid-morning from the ramp and idled out to the main lake. Anticipation of new water and the opportunity to explore kept me on edge. Fall has already had its effect on water temps. Three weeks ago we were pushing mid 70’s. I’m still waiting to see 58 degrees this morning. The drastic temperature change has me thinking we are wasting our time.

We do a drive around getting acquainted with Irving and find plenty of weeds, cattails, flats, sunken roads, and submerged bridges, but no structure. In a dish pan lake structure is rare. More often than not  structure is going to be weeds, cattails, flats, and roads. By now I have two hours of cruising time in with no promising locations in mind.

I finally see a point that catches my eye. Scattered rock, wind blowing in and deep water next door. Keep in mind deep is relative. Deep in Irving is 12-13 feet. We drop down Rip Shads and RS-4’s for a pass in 10 feet. Next pass we crank up some line and give it a go in 7 feet. Fish long enough and it’s gonna happen.

Keep in mind I have never fished here before. New lake, no map and no secret GPS locations to get started. Just a drive around to get the big picture and then drop‘em down and see what happens. I need to do this more often. Doubles were the norm. 17 inch fish were released with ease. 24 inch fish were released with a similar sized smile. What a lake.

The pattern was distilled down to jointed lures in 7 feet. I kept the speed down around 1.5. Firetiger colors were all I used due to the extremely dirty water. So dirty in fact I had to drain the livewell to count fish. My preconceived notions of cold dirty water = no fish was long forgotten.

We spent the night in Devils Lake at the Holiday. I’m surprised they let a redneck like me stay in such a nice place. They have a complimentary breakfast made just for me. Sausage, eggs, and coffee. With a full thermos of hot coffee we are off for more excitement.

Forecast is for high winds, rain and thunderstorms. Today is a repeat of yesterday except weather is biting deep into the rain gear. Two good waves over the side on the trip across and I’m shivering wet from the git go. We head back to yesterday’s point and are not disappointed with the results.

Fishing is slower today but still good enough to keep my attention through high winds and heavy rain. Same pattern as yesterday with 7 feet at 1.5 working best. Hard as it is to believe water is even dirtier today. I drain down the livewell to about ¼ full and still have to move fish from one side to the other for a count. I would guess clarity is about 1 inch. How do these fish find a crank?

Irving is about 20 miles west of Devils Lake on HWY 2. Turn north at the sign for Churches Ferry and take the first right after the tracks. Don’t panic when you get to the sign (1 lane Traffic). Two lane traffic is just ahead and so is the ramp.

Irving has sunken roads and in many ways is just like Devils Lake only in miniature. Be Careful. Take your time. Maybe take a slow drive around and get the big picture. Then when you find that location that catches your eye I hope you have the same experience we had.

North Dakota has so much to offer. Fish still outnumber fishermen and many will be happy to go home with you. Been a while since you have fished a new lake? There is a long list of ND lakes with reports of big walleyes and no fishing pressure.

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Remember fishing is a learned sport. More you practice the better you get, so better get fishing!

Greg Schoneck for ND Live