Northwest Fishing Reports

i am headed to devils lake this afternoon afterwork and always just fished the pads with the rapalas and spinnerbaits, i did this during the spring with mild success, should i keep with this method this time of the? should i fish more towards the middle of the lake more then the shoreline? any pointers would be great.

Thanks.

I don't know anything about that lake. If I were to fish it I'd start very early in the morning and fish the shore line all around the lake. I'd look for pads, docks, submergent weeds, rock piles and rock shorelines, for crayfish and minnows and use the proper baits to mimic those food items. Minnow baits, spinnerbaits, and of course jigs of different sizes, say from 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz, with and without a trailer. And be sure to try top water first thing.

I'd then start going deeper and deeper expecialy if no fish are caught or the bites stops. For deeper water try carolina rig, splitshot and dropshot, as well as deep crankbaits, rattletraps, slow rolling heavy spinnerbaits, and 3/8 to 1/2 or even 3/4 oz jigs.

Or, start in the evening in reverse of what I posted above, start deep and work your way shallow.

Or start LATE evening and then start with top water, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs, on into the night.

perfect thats exactly what i was looking for, Thanks AMX. Now to youtube carolina rig set up.

Oh ya, at least you have a topo map, back for MANY years we didn't have those, or depth finders. So exploring with a heavy jig can tell you what's on the bottom, and counting it down can tell you how deep it is, etc.

Keep it simple and don't over complicate it. If it was me I would be working outside edges of pads slow rolling a heavy spinnerbait near the bottom. Those fish should be sitting outside edge under the pads for shade and as an ambush point to feed. Any "depressions" or "points" in the pad fields slow down and pick apart a bit more with your confidence plastic - senko, beaver, brush hog, etc. Short strikes, follow up with those plastics and soak 'em in the area of the miss. If your feeling ambitious trade that spinnerbait out for a swimbait, just may get that bigger bite you are looking for. Let us know how ya do.