North Dakota’s Devils Lake will host up to 175 pro and co-angler teams on Sept. 5-8, concluding the last of the 2001 regular season tournaments on the Wal-Mart RCL walleye circuit. To be sure, it has been a long time between tournaments – approximately three months since the last tourney on Saginaw Bay – as a result of the cancellation of the Wal-Mart RCL tourney at Lacrosse, Wis. And not surprisingly, both pros and co-angler alike are chomping at the bit to get under way.
Devils Lake in depth
Devils Lake is an ever-changing body of water in the most complete sense of the word. This huge lake literally has been growing in size at an amazing pace. With no natural outlets to drain flooding waters, the lake has more than doubled in size over the past few years. However, this year, the lake seems to have reached a peak height that now allows some of the water runoff to meander through the hills and drain away. Fortunately, this has not affected the walleye fishery one bit. In fact, the walleye population has grown along with the size of the lake, a result that should mean a larger number stringers of walleye at each of the three weigh-ins at Spirit Lake Casino and Resort in Spirit Lake, N.D., as well as the final-day weigh-in at Devils Lake Wal-Mart.
Most anglers agree that limits shouldn’t be hard to come by. However, they caution that big limits may be a bit more scare.
“Finding a limit of walleye shouldn’t be too hard,” said pro angler Bob Adler of Niles, Ohio. “The difficult thing could be finding a limit of big fish.”
Anglers also said that a Devils Lake provides for a variety of potentially successful walleye-fishing techniques as well.
“Walleye can be caught on virtually every style of rig out of Devils Lake,” says Mark Martin of Twin Lakes, Mich. “Trolling cranks and spinners with boards or lead core, still-fishing with sip bobbers, casting cranks off the rock piles and jig fishing in the weeds and trees – it’s all (possible) here. Any of these techniques could be the winning ones.”
As usual, the water clarity of Devils Lake is subject to change with the weather. Runoff from the surrounding fields, as well as wind and wave direction, will go a long way in determining whether anglers experience muddy or clear-water conditions. The fishing techniques that can be employed are endless as well. Devils Lake has vast open water trolling opportunities, along with hundreds of structured areas that have been buried by the rising water. Old roadbeds, dead cattail beds, ancient farming rock piles, hills and dales and thick forests are just of the landscape that is now underwater. Consequently, there will be plenty of unique fishing opportunities.
Tournament’s future looks bright
So far, tournament director Sonny Reynolds is pleased with the final preparation and overall outlook of the Devils Lake tournament.
“Everything is going so smoothly,” said an energetic Reynolds. “The long-term weather forecast looks great, the facilities are top notch, and we have a record number of pro and co-anglers entered here.”
So in short, it looks as if the Wal-Mart RCL Devils Lake tournament could turn out to be one of the best events of the season. Record attendance, great facilities and a great walleye fishery are just some of the attractions at this year’s tourney. Adding to that excitement is the fact that the event will qualify more anglers for the championship that will be held on the Fox River and Green Bay in Green Bay, Wis., Oct. 2-6.
Operation Walleye has also announced some changes for the event. The launching site and first three weight-ins have been changed from Grahams Island State Park, to Spirit Lake Casino and Resort in Spirit Lake, N.D. Registration and pre tournament meeting will be held there too. The final weigh-in, where top awards of $85,000 cash and prizes in the Pro Division and $15,000 cash in the Co-angler Division are up for grabs, will remain at the Devils Lake Wal-Mart.
In addition, Operation Walleye has announced that there are approximately 10 more openings in the pro division for the Devils Lake tourney. To register for competition or for more information about the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit, visit www.operationwalleye.com or call 270-362-5259. Entry fees for regular season tournaments are $1,250 for pros and $500 for co-anglers.
Fans can also attend a Sept. 3 “Meet the Pros” gathering at the local Wal-Mart in the parking lot. Visitors will be able to meet and greet professional walleye anglers from around the United States.
Sponsors of the 2001 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit are Coleman, Conseco, Crestliner, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Garmin, Kellogg’s, Lund, Mercury, Minn Kota, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Wal-Mart, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.