North Dakota Buzz Bite Report – Mitchell’s Guide Service (Devils Lake)

July 19, 2016

Jason Mitchell

The fish are biting here at Devils Lake, ND.. July fishing is living up to expectations and for many, fishing this month is even better than last years good July bite. Some nice fish are now being caught out in the main lake basin by our guided groups. Even inexperienced anglers new to Devils Lake have been going home with limits of small, eater walleyes.

Devils Lake is a diverse fishery whose secrets can be difficult to unlock. While many presentations will work, the most effective ways to catch quality fish may not be what pre conceived notions brought from back home will deliver. The same applies to finding the locations of quality, mature fish. The most common complaint I hear from unsuccessful anglers is that they can only catch small fish. Getting stuck on small fish, raiding the nursery of sexually immature 10-15 inch fish is a pattern that will not find you the schools of mature fish. There is much so more to Devils Lake fishing than getting mired down catching only small fish. Daily, our guides who are experienced with fishing at DL produce good catches of mature walleyes for their clients.

The educational value of fishing with a good guide will pay dividends, not only in fish, but more importantly in unlocking the secrets to patterns and presentations that will make you a more successful angler. For our guides and their groups, Devils Lake continuously produces quality catches of 15 – 21 eater walleyes with larger walleyes being voluntarily released.

Walleyes can be a very challenging fish to catch. Fronts come through, patterns change, bug hatches and abundant forage will at times leave even experienced anglers scratching their heads. The knowledge gained from past experience in overcoming these obstacles our guides have gained. This does not come easy to new, inexperienced anglers attempting to fish Devils Lake. To speed up this process I would encourage the hiring of a good guide. We here at Mitchells Guide Service are here to help you start the process of unlocking the secrets of fishing for Devils Lake Gold.

Pete Harsh
Mitchells Guide Service
701-662-5996

Devils Lake Fishing Report mitchells guide service

Jason Mitchell

Over the past decade, Jason Mitchell has earned a legendary status as a professional hunting and fishing guide on North Dakota’s Devils Lake. Jason began his career as a guide at an early age and in the span of a decade, built one of the largest open water guide services in existence (Mitchell’s Guide Service head quartered out of Woodland Resort) and was a key member of Devils Lake’s famed Perch Patrol Guide Service during the winter. Mitchell also spent up to seventy five days each fall as a waterfowl hunting guide before expanding into television. During that time, Mitchell logged thousands of hours on the water and ice, earning a reputation for not only being an extraordinary guide, hunter and angler but also a gifted writer, communicator and promoter. Jason’s credibility is grounded by a combination of extensive time on the water, a reputation for honesty and integrity. During Mitchell’s career as a guide, he worked with a “who’s who” of outdoor writers, television show hosts and celebrities in the fishing and hunting industry. Mitchell had a well earned status of being one of the elite guides making a living from fishing and hunting. The hunting and fishing industry began to realize what Mitchell’s guide customers did long before, several writers and television hosts began to trust Mitchell as a guide they could count on for both strong editorial and video footage. Mitchell’s experience and time on the water or in the field is hard to duplicate. “A step into Jason Mitchell’s boat makes any angler a much better fishermen because Jason is so in tuned to what is happening on the water and is such a masterful teacher,” explains veteran outdoor writer Mark Strand. While Mitchell’s reputation as a guide, hunter and angler may be recognized, what continues to drive his popularity is an uncommon modesty and humbleness that is refreshing to many viewers.