Week of May 12–18, 2025

🐟 Walleye

Walleye fishing was steady but variable throughout the week. Early in the week, warmer temperatures led to good activity in shallow bays and along rocky shorelines. Anglers trolling crankbaits or casting jigs tipped with minnows reported decent catches, particularly during the morning and evening hours. Midweek saw a slowdown, likely due to a cold front moving in, which made the bite more finicky. Slower presentations and staying mobile helped locate active fish.

🐠 White Bass

The white bass bite was hot this week, especially in warmer, shallow backwaters. Anglers casting small swimbaits, spinners, or even simple twister tails had nonstop action when they found a school. Many of the bass were staging or spawning, making them aggressive and easy to target. This is one of the best weeks of the year to chase white bass on Devils Lake.

🐊 Northern Pike

Northern pike were extremely active, offering fast action across a wide range of locations. Shallow weed edges and flooded cattail areas held good numbers of fish. Spinnerbaits, spoons, and larger crankbaits all produced. Some anglers reported catching more pike than they could handle while targeting walleye. These fish were feeding heavily ahead of the cooler weather pattern.

🌦️ Weather Summary

This week brought dramatic changes. Monday started with unseasonably high temperatures, reaching into the low 90s, creating ideal conditions for shallow-water fishing. However, by mid to late week, a strong cold front moved in, dropping daytime highs into the 40s and bringing wind, cloud cover, and scattered showers. Water temps dipped slightly, and fish activity adjusted accordingly.

🔍 Tips for the Coming Days

• Walleye: Focus on windblown points and shallow flats in the afternoon as water warms. Use jigs and live bait or slow-trolled crankbaits.
• White Bass: Keep searching shallow bays—look for birds or surface activity to locate schools.
• Pike: Try flashy lures in weedy or flooded areas, and be ready for hard strikes.