Devils Lake Fishing Spot

  • County: Otter Tail
  • Acreage: 211
  • Public Fishing: Yes
  • Max Depth: 67'
  • Last Modified By: vinny60 on 03/02/11 03:01 PM
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Fish Species

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Devils Lake Description

Devils Lake is a 314-acre mesotrophic lake located in northeastern Otter Tail County approximately four miles northwest of Perham, MN. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. There are no navigable inlets or outlets. The maximum depth is 67 feet; however, 67% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2007 lake survey was 9.0 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 10.0 to 15.0 feet. The south, east, and west shorelines of Devils Lake have been developed. Homes and cottages compose the majority of the development. One resort and a DNR owned public access are located along the east shoreline. The shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Areas of emergent aquatic vegetation are rare. Devils Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye and bluegill are the dominant gamefish species in Devils Lake. The northern pike test-net catch rate indicates that they are abundant. Age data indicate that northern pike reproduction is consistently good. Northern pike ranged in length from 16.2 to 37.4 inches with a mean length and weight of 21.7 inches and 2.4 pounds. Northern pike growth is slow with an average length of 22.1 inches at age-VI. Slow growth may be related to the low abundance of yellow perch which is a preferred forage of northern pike. Summer test-net indices are not reliable indicators of largemouth bass abundance or size structure; however, angler reports on this species have been positive. Bass sampled during this survey ranged in length from 6.8 to 12.2 inches. The walleye test-net catch rate has remained stable in recent surveys. Age data indicate that walleye reproduction is very limited. The DNR stocks walleye fingerlings on a triennial basis to maintain the population. Walleyes ranged in length from 7.0 to 24.8 inches with an average length and weight of 21.7 inches and 3.6 pounds. Walleyes attain an average length of 13.2 inches at four years of age. The bluegill test-net catch rate indicates that they are also abundant; however, the recent trend has been a decline in abundance. The decline in abundance corresponds with an increase in size structure. Thirty-one percent of the bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater in length. Age data indicate that bluegill reproduction is consistently good. Bluegills attain an average length of 6.3 inches at six years of age. Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future.

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