Dancing with different Devils

Bobber bite off as final Western Division event gets under way

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – An ever-expanding prairie pothole, Devils Lake is both a natural wonder and a special retreat for Upper Midwest sportsmen. The scenery, which includes submerged barns and flooded hardwoods, is unique and the water is teaming with aggressive walleyes.

With a closed drainage basin, Devils is known for its wide variations in lake levels. Recent high runoff years have swung those levels to an all-time high. With the added water, thousands of acres have been flooded. While devastating for some residents and farmers, this new underwater cover has become prime habitat for walleye reproduction. Currently, the lake is five feet higher (1451.83 feet above sea level) than it was last year.

For years, the FLW Walleye Tour visited Devils in mid-June. And during those tournaments two distinct patterns dominated – the slipper bobber and the Shad Rap. Fished shallow, these presentations were different, yet equally effective. Casting Shad Raps was a great way to cover water, especially on windy days when fishing specific structure was difficult. Likewise, the June bobber bite was tough to beat. Anglers would set up in 6 or 7 feet of water near trees. They positioned a jumbo leech a foot or so off the bottom and then patiently waited for a bite.

“The days of tying off to one tree and waiting for five 5-pounders is over,” said pro Dusty Minke, the leader in the Western Division points race. “I really think guys are going to have to work for their fish this year.”

Minke said a combination of factors have led to slower-than-normal fishing. The water temperature is high, there is less clarity, there are tiny shrimp everywhere and an algae bloom is present. These conditions are common in July, but must be dealt with one way or another.

“It’s going to be tough, but tough is relative on Devils. The fish are still there, it’s just that the big bite is a lot more tricky. The small fish have really taken over and they are aggressive.”

In mid-summer, presentations run the gamut. In addition to slip corks and cranks, open-water techniques like spinners and bottom bouncers come into play.

“You’re going to see guys doing a little bit of everything,” said pro Bill Shimota, who won the Western Division opener on the Mississippi River. “And this lake really spreads the field out.”

With the higher water and late-summer conditions Navionics pro Tommy Skarlis said he’s basically had to start from scratch.

“When I got here, I was really discombobulated,” he said. “I tried to fish specific structure up in Pelican Bay like I always do – things like rock piles and cabbage. But that wasn’t working so I started over. I think I’m finally getting it together now.”

Skarlis predicts only a few stringers will cross the 20-pound mark at this afternoon’s weigh-in.

“You’ll see some good weights, but 21 or 22 pounds is big now – whereas it used to be 26 or even 28. It’s a different lake. I think 14 or 15 pounds a day will put you in the cut.”

Logistics

Anglers will take off from Woodland Resort located at 1012 Woodland Dr. in Devils Lake at 7 each morning. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at Woodland Resort beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at Lake Chevrolet, located at 123 5th St. N.E. in Devils Lake, beginning at 4:00 p.m.

There will also be a free family fishing clinic on Saturday from 2:30 – 4 p.m. at the Chevy dealership prior to the final weigh-in. The community is invited to attend daily takeoffs and weigh-ins, which are free and open to the public.

Pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day and fish for a combined boat weight. Pros compete against other pros, and co-anglers compete against other co-anglers. The full field competes during the two-day opening round for one of 10 final-round slots based on their accumulated weight. Weights carry over to day three, with the winners determined by the heaviest three-day weight.

In FLW Walleye Tour competition, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2010 FLW Walleye Tour Championship held on Leech Lake in Walker, Minn., Sept. 23-25. The top 20 pros and co-anglers from the final point standings in each division qualify for the 2010 FLW Walleye Tour Championship.

On the Web

For those who can’t catch the weigh-in action in person, FLWOutdoors.com offers FLW Live, an online application that brings fans real-time weigh-in results.

Thursday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:07 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 66 degrees

Expected high temperature: 80 degrees

Water temperature: 72-78 degrees

Wind: SSE at 15 mph

Maximum humidity: 58 percent

Day’s outlook: showers early then partly cloudy