What special fishing regulations apply at Devils Lake?

Devils Lake carries 6 special-regulation overlays that override North Dakota's statewide 2026 rules, covering Walleye, Northern pike, Yellow perch, Crappie, and 1 more. One of them reads: "Walleye + sauger + saugeye combined 5 / day, NO length limit (10 possession — no Devils Lake length or bag exception; the liberal ND statewide limits apply); northern pike 5 / day no minimum, 10 possession; perch 20 / day no minimum; white bass 20 / day (ND state-record white bass 4 lb 10 oz Devils Lake 2012); crappie 10 / day no minimum (occasional true slab); closed-basin terminal lake (no outflow to a river system); one of the densest perch + walleye + pike + white bass fisheries in the Upper Midwest." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Devils Lake?

Yes. Devils Lake is in North Dakota, so a valid North Dakota fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by North Dakota Game & Fish Department (ND G&F). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Devils Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide North Dakota rules.

Do Devils Lake's special rules replace North Dakota's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. North Dakota's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Devils Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Devils Lake?

Walleye, Northern pike, Yellow perch, Crappie, and White bass have a water-body-specific rule on Devils Lake, each linking to its full North Dakota regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide North Dakota limits.

2026 regulation year

Devils Lake 2026 — North Dakota Fishing Regulations

North Dakota statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 8, 2026

Devils Lake carries 6 special-regulation overlays on top of North Dakota's 2026 fishing rules — covering Walleye, Northern pike, Yellow perch, Crappie, and 1 more species. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Walleye + sauger + saugeye combined 5 / day, NO length limit (10 possession — no Devils Lake length or bag exception; the liberal ND statewide limits apply); northern pike 5 / day no minimum, 10 possession; perch 20 / day no minimum; white bass 20 / day (ND state-record white bass 4 lb 10 oz Devils Lake 2012); crappie 10 / day no minimum (occasional true slab); closed-basin terminal lake (no outflow to a river system); one of the densest perch + walleye + pike + white bass fisheries in the Upper Midwest
Source: North Dakota special-water list

Per-species rules on Devils Lake

Walleye regulations →
NO length limit, 5 / day combined walleye + sauger + saugeye (10 possession); one of the densest walleye fisheries in the Upper Midwest
Northern pike regulations →
No minimum length, 5 / day (10 possession) — standard ND statewide limit, no Devils Lake bag or length exception
Yellow perch regulations →
No minimum, 20 / day; country's premier trophy yellow perch fishery — routinely 12-14 in with 16+ in jumbos
Crappie regulations →
10 / day no minimum; occasional true slab among the perch + walleye biomass
White bass regulations →
20 / day (40 possession); country's premier white bass fishery; ND state-record white bass 4 lb 10 oz Devils Lake (Six Mile Bay) 2012

Official source

North Dakota Game & Fish Department (ND G&F) publishes the authoritative 2026 North Dakota fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official North Dakota fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to North Dakota Game & Fish Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any North Dakota trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in North Dakota

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Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Devils Lake?: Devils Lake carries 6 special-regulation overlays that override North Dakota's statewide 2026 rules, covering Walleye, Northern pike, Yellow perch, Crappie, and 1 more. One of them reads: "Walleye + sauger + saugeye combined 5 / day, NO length limit (10 possession — no Devils Lake length or bag exception; the liberal ND statewide limits apply); northern pike 5 / day no minimum, 10 possession; perch 20 / day no minimum; white bass 20 / day (ND state-record white bass 4 lb 10 oz Devils Lake 2012); crappie 10 / day no minimum (occasional true slab); closed-basin terminal lake (no outflow to a river system); one of the densest perch + walleye + pike + white bass fisheries in the Upper Midwest." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Devils Lake?: Yes. Devils Lake is in North Dakota, so a valid North Dakota fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by North Dakota Game & Fish Department (ND G&F). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Devils Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide North Dakota rules.
Do Devils Lake's special rules replace North Dakota's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. North Dakota's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Devils Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Devils Lake?: Walleye, Northern pike, Yellow perch, Crappie, and White bass have a water-body-specific rule on Devils Lake, each linking to its full North Dakota regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide North Dakota limits.

← Back to North Dakota regulations overview