Devils Lake, ND – Devils Lake is a favorite fishing destination.  Anglers head to this North Dakota town and lake of the same name because of the walleyes, northern pike, white bass and perch.  The lake offers more miles of easily accessible shoreline fishing than any other North American lake. 

 

Now, the shoreline fishing just became better – three times better with the completion of three new ADA-compliant fishing piers.  They are located at very good fishing locations, and city engineer Mike Grafsgaard said, “Every time I’ve been out to the Channel A pier, it has been in use.”  Fishermen have thanked him time after time, saying, “If not for this access, I wouldn’t be fishing.” 

 

Directions to the piers from downtown follow:

 

Channel A:  Drive 8 miles west on Highway 2.  Turn right (north) on 75th Ave NE for one mile.  At 54th St. NE, turn right (east) for about two miles to the 8 x 36 foot pier.  Channel A pier has been in use since the ice departed.  Water flows into the main lake from the upper lakes via this channel. 

 

Pike Playground and Fishing Pier:  Just east of Walmart, turn south on Elks Dr. for one-quarter mile.  Take the first left towards the pump station and dike, and drive to the 8 x 40 foot pier.  Now fully functional.  Also has a playground. 

 

Henegar Landing:  Drive one mile west on Highway 19.  Turn left on Walleye Dr. for one mile to the 8 x 40 foot pier.  A few construction details are being finalized with completion in July.

 

The fishing piers were built to withstand decades of constant use and the vagaries of Mother Nature.  “We used marine-grade aluminum and galvanized steel.  These piers will be in use for a very long time,” he said.

 

The parking lots, sidewalks and gradually sloping ramps to accommodate wheelchairs were only one aspect of the engineering.  Grafsgaard said, “We had to account for very large waves and changing water levels.  Solutions were resolved to address all lake contingencies.”

 

With the significant amount of volunteer assistance from members of the Lake Region Anglers, costs were contained to the exact amount of the total budget, $610,765.  “We couldn’t have done this without the tremendous assistance from Shelby Vasichek and his Bobcat dealership.  He provided equipment, ran the machinery, set docks and readjusted them as needed.  He is one of the unsung heroes here,” Grafsgaard said.

 

Funding came from the North Dakota Industrial commission via the Outdoor Heritage Fund Grant program ($361,728), and the City, the ND Game and Fish Department, the Lake Region Anglers Association, the Devils Lake Chamber – Tourism Division, the Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resources Board, the Devils Lake Access Committee, VFW Post 756, the Ramsey County Water Board and Lake Region Sportsmen.

 

He added, “When developing these shore fishing piers we were fortunate to have great state and federal partners.  We work closely with them on dikes, roads, riprap, and everything around Devils Lake.  These piers were fun to create and as soon as they were open, we began to see the benefits – people were using them.”

 

A forth fishing pier was added to Devils Lake by the Devils Lake Park Board on the Lakewood Beach area of Creel Bay. Directions to this pier are: 3 miles south of Devils Lake on Highway 20 to 45th St, then 2 miles west on Burke Blvd, and .5 miles north to Lakewood Park. Paved access road.

 

For more information about Devils Lake motels and resorts, fish cleaning stations, water levels, ramps, public fishing piers, fishing reports for walleye, pike, perch and white bass, community activities, the Chamber Walleye tournament, guides, dining, casino and much more, go to devilslakend.com, or call the Tourism office, 701-662-4903.