Shore Fishing Walleye on Devils Lake

Jason Mitchell joins Rick Darling to catch big walleye from shore on North Dakota's Devils Lake. Chest waders are used to catch several big pre-spawn walleye by pitching 1/4 ounce jigs tipped with a Kalins Sizmic Grub using a slow retrieve.
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[@goodcitizen4587]

I'm glad you're encouraging people to get out and fish.

[@dellingson4833]

Hi stayed at at Woodland many times you guided my family many years ago, (yes we did great). I learned even later in the summer doesn't matter for shore fishing and long as its wind blown. Check the forecast and find out which way the wind has been blowing before you go. Long as there is shrimp and forage being pushed up to shore and a chop in the water due to the eye sensitivity of the walleye they will come right up to knee deep. Thanks for great video's.

[@robertparrington4666]

Great looking walleye. Its great to fish off shore at times.

[@hitmanhartman1394]

being from New Mexico I've done my share of fishing, but being up in ND now I'm glad I came across your channel so that I can find better spots to fish, especially for walleye! Thank you

[@armchairgangstac907]

awesome video! im in minot cant wait to try this!

[@etillemanunya6338]

I have been shore fishing for years and cannot believe I have never thought of using the sled trick. I've always used a vest and stringer. Thanks for the tip.

[@JaggedToothTackle]

I'm really hoping (probably won't happen) to find some low wind days this spring and kayak old 281 in the ditches pitching jigs along with areas of channel A and MC -- excited but that wind....

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

There will be some perfect days for that!

[@StormLaker]

Been doing it this way down here in Iowa on our shallow lakes since I was a teenager in the 80's. Great tactic to catch walleyed in areas boats have difficulty reaching.

[@CloverStarz]

What lake in iowa?

[@BOCazayPesca]

Really nice man I enjoyed a lot ;) Cheers!

[@unclewreckum4504]

I have two of your 7 foot rods and i love them ! I live in southwest Minnesota and crazy as it sounds i cant find n e where to catch walleye from shore 😭. I see video after video of people catching walleye from shore or in waders. I go fishing in SD even and cant seem to catch n e. I mean i catch one here and there but i get skunked a lot. Sure wish i knew where i could go and actually catch some nice walleye. Not hardly n e lakes where im at in southwest Mn. Lake Shitek is the closest. Nothing but carp near shorelines that i have found. Reasy to just give up walleye fishing all together. Ive tried live bait and dang near every bait i have. I dont have a boat and got my kayak stolen while in hospital getting kidney removed 🙄but what can ya do. Gr8 video guys ! 👍

[@boomn216]

I changed to moon eye jigs and swim baits as well as grubs. Been catching a lot more now. 4 inch or less.

[@walleyperch]

Shore fished Devil's Lake several times on the causeway to the island park with a jig and white grub and always caught some - it's a great fishery.

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

💯

[@rodneyharris7246]

awesome video!!!

[@StormLaker]

I'll take pike like that all day, they are as good eating as walleyes are. I've had several trips to Boundary Waters where we ate more pike than we did walleye. Love that chunky backstrap!

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Agreed, pike are great to eat

[@Lachelip]

Bring back memories when I lived in ND.

[@NashoArms]

I know exactly where they are. Took me forever to find it and I did same and was able to catch some nice fish too. Love this video. Always bring the waders!

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Great to hear you caught some fish. There are awesome wader and shore fishing opportunities early in the year.

[@jalenwalls5228]

Are they in North Dakota?

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Yes Devils Lake

[@minnesotamudice6780]

They say it on the video. Channel A by the rocks. I'm going to give it a try in 2 weeks.

[@321outdoors2]

hey jason can you plz do a video how do you find those trophy walleyes real appreciated thx

[@GainsGoblin]

That sled trick is really smart

[@gooutdoors4478]

That is very good fore shore fishing

[@aleksandr6537]

wow nice fish! what diameter of a fluorocarbon you used when catching a walleye?

[@garrettfransen1785]

Hey Jason love your videos. I'm 16 from Nebraska but I'm moving up to rugby for the summer and was wondering what's the best all around rod length and action for walleyes

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Check out our Jason Mitchell Pro Walleye Series spinning rod line up. Rods retail for $59.99. Regardless of brand, I would recommend a 6' to 6.6' medium action rod for most walleye presentations. Good luck and thanks for watching.

[@geraldbalciarjr651]

Very nice.

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@CloverStarz]

Anyone knows the location of the video?

[@dwightgordon9354]

Okay, so you're recommending catch and release. They're getting ready to spawn, I get it. Is there a good season for shore fishing for those of us who catch and eat?

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Just release the larger females, you will also often catch plenty of males that are less than twenty inches that are great for the table. April and early May are really good for shore fishing but there can be good shore fishing on Devils Lake through the summer.

[@CmdrPewpeez]

just come to Devils Lake anytime of year and there ya go....

[@squeakmcgeek8817]

I've been trying to fishing right off the north side of the highway there and it's always full of those Asians from minnesota taking up every spot they can. Now I will try fishing this spot you're at in this video and get some peace and quite! Thanks!

[@yryt7uryhtyrtyryyry]

Squeak McGeek that's what they do

[@bighitshockey3550]

Squeak McGeek that's why we need a draw bridge and you have to have a guide to fish in North Dakota

[@jonathangallant-mills6434]

Went to a boat rental place once and when I asked the guy for tips on how to fish he told me to just pay attention to whatever the Asians were doing! Apparently they're the best

[@bighitshockey3550]

Jonathan Gallant-Mills no there not they over fish and keep every fish they keep and go to Minnesota to sell them as black cod they are criminals

[@GhostMourner6907]

Big hits Hockey ahaha you funny

[@Ohe11itsODell]

devils lake is down right now isnt it? hows that effect the bite

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Little less current so the fish are not running quite as far north as hard.

[@joelspiehs2276]

Was this on one of the smaller lakes just north of devils

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

No we were fishing the Coulee south of Hwy 2 but there is great fishing up north with a lot of great culverts that get good in the spring.

[@paytonsouthard3204]

FINALLY A NORTH DAKOTA WALLEYE FISHING VIDEO IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR EVER

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

+Payton Southard 👍

[@NilaOstrander]

Why you didn't bring it home? Just wondering. You don't eat fish? What the size limits out there to keep the Walleye?

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

There are no size limits on Devils Lake. We eat fish all the time and keep fish at times but just keep what we need and like to keep 13-20 inch fish for eating and generally like to release the larger fish.

[@metalwing750]

Wow off shore thet is really that good?

[@SteveOliver13]

I live in Devils Lake, Mauvais Coulee and Grahams island are my main spots. Coulee for bigger walleyes(20+") and Graham's island for quantity(10+/night/person). I use a two hook system, floating hook and j-hook off the t-turn swivel, and I use leeches and just hammer them.

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Pretty unique opportunity as there are times early in the season especially when the shore and wader anglers can catch more fish than people in boats at times.

[@metalwing750]

Jason Mitchell Outdoors i would say!,....ive never been to devils but thanks for responding J.M.O's!

[@NotSoKnownHipHop]

Does anyone know the reel he is using at 2:35?

[@ethangillespie6254]

Nicolas shimao stradic fj. They don't make it any more.

[@brucehendrickson7922]

What line do u use?

[@ahernandez1080]

It looks like braided fireline. Most likely 8lbs but maybe 10lbs.

[@wafarms2514]

I would of released those fish straight into a pan with some butter and garlic salt

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

+Wa Farms for sure we like to eat a few. Thanks for watching!

[@josesl2801]

Hey where is this at I want to go

[@JunoStoles]

Jose SL it’s at North Dakota

[@jasonkarls2384]

Do I need to fish left handed to catch fish like that?

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Ha... no

[@theamerican7131]

Out of staters need not apply. Great video, Jason and Rick.

[@coreyakins8549]

where at on devil's lake are you guys

[@person4211]

any point where water goes under a road running through the lakes wade out to the drop or weeds and cast a rapala at 1 am

[@Boyznthehill169]

I’m only there for the Silver Bass 🤭

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

👍 They are fun!

[@mattioder]

what water temps key this bite?

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Mid forties

[@ahernandez1080]

He said catch a fish of a lifetime 🤣🤣🤣 come to Michigan in the fall for a real fish of a lifetime.

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

We would love to! Hopefully your governor will let us😀

[@danielamador8740]

What size and action of rod is that?

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

stores.clamoutdoors.com/jason-mitchell/open-water-rods/elite-series-7-2-medium-action-jm721ms.html

[@danielamador8740]

Thank you

[@julianpinney4721]

How deep? 6-8 feet ?

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

We were probably casting into four or five feet of water.

[@gertheman27]

what kind of line u using?

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Ten pound Fireline

[@jonathangallant-mills6434]

North Dakota? That accent sounds so Canadian!

[@vidkeeper9]

been here 2 years and most people here sound like him or even more thick

[@prairiecreations]

Where devils lake is located at , you are only 30-40 min. From Canada

[@vidkeeper9]

well a little more but yeah i live like 15 minutes from the border

[@tiszaihorgaszat]

Karantén fisching?:)))))

[@charlielindberg4260]

I go to devil's Lake

[@benklasen3989]

Charlie Lindberg same good for u

[@thojpride12]

Hi there, i would like to know the location in devil's lake. Thanks

[@DizLikeFishing]

Hello brother good interesting video. Come to see me see videos of how they fish in Ukraine.

[@MGRAYSON11111]

This makes me sad lol

[@michaeldoherty2289]

Really nice video. I grew up in Northern Minnesota and fished walleyes all my life. The fish you are catching are word-class. My only negative comment is I hated seeing you shove your hands into the gills of these big fish. If you are going to release the fish, try to be more gentle on them.

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Gripping a walleye by the gill plate is a solid way to get control of the fish that doesn't hurt the fish. Thanks for watching.

[@michaeldoherty2289]

I also grew up to be a fisheries biologist and am now retired. Sticking your fingers through the gill plate is indeed a great way to "get control" of a walleye. It keeps you away from the spines. But its also a great way to damage the gills under the gill plate. Lethal damage is often not even visible. Sticking your fingers deeply behind the gill plate is not a good way to handle a fish that you are going to put back in the water. I don't really care what you do with fish you are going to kill and eat, but when you are shooting videos for public consumption, and are practicing catch and release, it makes me crazy to see fish handled poorly like this. Its just not right. These are some really fine walleyes you are catching and releasing. Treat them like the treasures they are.

[@michaeldoherty2289]

I am a retired fish biologist and sticking your fingers behind the gill plate is very risky for fish you are returning to the water. The damage is often unseen and lethal. You are also educating the public when you publish these videos Jason. These fish are real treasures, and I hate to seem them treated this way. If you are catching to keep and eat, its fine. But when you are area catching for fun and releasing, keeping your fingers out of the gill plate is a rule that should never be violated.

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

We respect your opinion but strongly disagree with you. Gripping the gill plate doesn't put your fingers in the gills on large fish. Take musky as the ultimate example. You are gripping the gill plate, the gills are protected by the gill rakers. If people start taking your advice and not gripping big fish by the gills, how should they hold them? You can't immobilize walleye, pike or musky by gripping the base of the tail like you can a trout. Are people supposed to bear hug them? If people don't control large walleye, pike and musky by gripping the gill plate, you are going to have a lot of dropped fish and the turn around time for getting that fish back into the water is much longer. All of the fish biologists I know in the upper Midwest who handle a lot of walleyes tell me that gripping the gill plate is a safe way to handle fish. Having fish flop around the floor of a boat however is not good fish handling. What can be dangerous for our fisheries is concepts designed and taught for small stream trout blindly transferred over to other fish species. We have come a long ways in regards to better release practices, musky fishing is a prime example. Imagine how many muskies would die if people start holding them like a trout?

[@michaeldoherty2289]

The gill rakers are delicate too. When you pulled that fish up by the gill plates you jammed your hands into the rakers and more that likely deeper. The real way to handle a fish for release is to not take it out of the water or really handle it at all. Take a good set of pliers and grip the hook and pop it loose while the fish is in the water. That way you don't disturb the slime layer either which is vitally important in protecting the fish from fungal and bacterial attack, especially in warmer water. But you can't get your videos that way. What this is really about it getting your photo opportunities isn't it? If the fish takes live bait deep, its best to just cut the line as short as you can and let them go. Fish that size are really special, and I just hate to see them handled roughly.

[@atomac23]

guys are right about the fact to do not have 20-30 thousands dollars for fishings. Itis darn hobby not something that you live from it.