Ice Fishing Jumbo Perch Walleye Northern Pike Devils Lake, North Dakota Perch Train

Using instant setup Fish Trap shelters by Clam, and a deep connection with Dave Genz, Perch Patrol Guide Service consistently leads clients to good catches on challenging Devils Lake. Covering mile after mile of iced-over Devils Lake in pursuit of catchable fish is one of the sport's supreme challenges. Structure is scarce and one of the lake's most important food sources– freshwater shrimp– is nomadic by nature. Now, add the pressure of paying clients to the mix and it toughens the task even more. This is the playing field for North Dakota 's famous Perch Patrol Guide Service.

In order to stack the odds in their favor, the Perch Patrol chooses Fish Trap instant setup shelters by Clam.

“Every day it's a new challenge, to find and stay on top of fish,” says Steve ‘Zippy' Dahl, Perch Patrol Founder and Head Guide. “Even after we have our clients temporarily on fish, at least one of us (guides) is already off, searching for the next pod of biters.

“Our fish are constantly moving, so we have to move to stay with them. The Fish Traps keep us moving, and keep us covered. Our customers are extremely comfortable, in padded swivel chairs, with the heater going. They can concentrate on trying to get the fish to bite, and they can move from spot to spot very quickly. At the end of the day, we always hear about what a pleasure it is to fish inside the Traps.”

Zippy talks about the long history between Perch Patrol and Fish Trap, dating back to the early days when Dave Genz brought his invention out to Devils Lake . “We appreciate the time we get to spend with Dave,” Zippy said. “He has become a good friend to us over the years, and he still comes out and fishes with us. We talk fishing, we share ideas, it's the kind of connection you can't have with any other company.

“The people working at Clam Corp. are great too. They listen. One year they sent their whole front office up here. We got to bend the ear of the lead engineer Tom Walters. We discussed things like tub size and seat heights on the Fish Trap Voyagers.” Zippy stated. “Out of the blue, I asked him if there was any way to sew in a rear door so when we (Perch Patrol Guides) are explaining things to our clients like how to read and use a Vexilar, and different jigging techniques, we wouldn't be tap dancing through the maze of 4 holes, the Vexilars, dead stick rods, and the heaters.” Zippy explained. “They took a simple idea and made it better, the next year Clam Corp. came out with the Trap Link system and included in it is a rear door,” Zippy smiles.

“When you're in a Fish Trap, you're fishing out of a piece of history, the shelter that started the ice fishing revolution.” For its part, Clam and Dave Genz feel the same way about Zippy and his guides.

“In a lot of ways,” says Genz, “we have similar histories. The Perch Patrol plowed the road for a lot of people. They've been helping customers be successful for many years, on one of the toughest lakes to consistently catch fish.” Genz adds this: “Perch Patrol is extremely versatile. It's a big lake out there, and you have some choices. You can go after jumbo perch, walleyes, and northern pike. If you go with the flow and follow your guide, chances are you're gonna catch some nice fish.”

When you talk about an award such as the Lake Region Anglers Association‘s Lifetime Achievement Award, you sometimes have to think awhile to come up with that special person that fits the criteria. After all it is an award that is recognized as the club's highest honor and it also is an award that does not get handed out all that often.

But when you think of fishing and fisherman and fisherwomen as well, and as long as our winters are here in Devils Lake, North Dakota it is not too difficult think about ice fishing and ice anglers - the people who do it. After all ice fishing is perhaps our longest season of the year. When you think of ice fishing on Devils Lake, there is one name that comes to mind, and that name belongs to Mr. Dave Tronson. It doesn't matter what coffee house, resort or bait shop you go to, you are sure to hear Dave's name brought up, and if you stay awhile your bound to hear a great Dave Tronson story.

Maybe you'll hear the story of Dave being the first person on Devils Lake to catch a walleye over 10 pounds back in 1982, or how he helped pioneer the guiding industry on Devils Lake to what it is today. I can't imagine the number of people Dave has taken out over the years and sent home with a smile on their face. Or how many people Dave has helped catch their very first fish or perhaps their biggest fish. There is no one else that possesses the passion and the enthusiasm Dave has every day he ice fishes. Every fish he reels up the hole is greeted with the same excitement a young 6 year old boy displays after catching his first ever fish. All you have to do is introduce yourself to one of his clients and you will soon notice that his passion and enthusiasm is contagious. It is no wonder why Dave has always been the most requested guide on the Perch Patrol Guide Service.

Perhaps you will hear the story of how the majority of ice fisherman of the 80's followed a little red Chevy 6 cylinder pickup around to some of the finest perch and walleye fishing in the country. In fact, it was often rumored by many that the big schools of perch followed this same pickup around the lake.

Perhaps you would hear the stories of how Dave would always drop off a limit of the most beautiful walleyes at the Towers Bait Shop and tell Al Bergan to give them to someone less fortunate or to someone who just had a tough day of fishing that day.

Perhaps you will hear the story of how Dave was always the first one to venture out on “first ice” every winter on the newly froze over Devils Lake. I've heard a lot of these stories of how Dave and Donkey Mertens would walk out on ice so thin that they would have to keep 20 yards apart in order to keep water from coming up the hole.

Or you may hear of the first ATV to be used on Devils Lake. Of course it was driven by Dave although it hardly looked like a 4 wheeler or even a 3 wheeler, the story I've heard it resembled more of a riding lawn mower than anything else.

Dave is one of the founding fathers of the Perch Patrol Guide Service. He has been a behind the scenes guy on nearly ever outdoor television production we have ever been associated with. He never wants to featured, he never wants to be on camera, in fact, it is quite difficult to even snap his picture. Dave is very modest. But Dave knows the importance of promoting Devils Lake and what these shows do for our community and he is dedicated to making it work behind the scenes looking for fish and putting the on camera talent on the best spots while the production is being filmed. Tony Dean did do a feature on Dave about 5 years ago. A feature that we will watch in a moment. According to Tony Dean, Dave is the best perch fisherman he has ever known. That says a lot considering some of the company Tony Dean hangs with.

Dave Tronson has always been well known by residents and non-residents alike and has always been the most respected ice fisherman Devils Lake has ever known. After getting to know Dave and fishing with him it is easy to see why. Dave is the most genuine person you will ever meet. Dave never tells a lie. People ask him how the fishing is and not only will Dave tell you if it is bad but he will also tell you when it is really good, and not only that, he will tell you where he is fishing and how he is catching them. He is not only a true gentleman off the ice but a true gentleman on the ice as well

Members of the Perch Patrol Guide Service will hit the ice this season without one of their long-time companions. Jim Legacie has retired from guiding winter fishermen.

Jim began his guide career back in 1989, and was a member of the "Red Devils Guide Service" that operated out of the Sportsmen's Den Bait and Tackle shop in Devils Lake, North Dakota. In 1996, Jim Legacie and Dave Tronson, joined forces and began guiding out of the Towers Bait Shop on Devils Lake. Eventually the Towers Bait Shop had to close due to the flooding waters of Devils Lake and Jim and Dave joined forces with Steve "Zippy" Dahl and the three of them began the Perch Patrol Guide Service in 1997.

Jim has been one of the leaders of the Perch Patrol Guide Service and has been one of the Perch Patrol's most requested guides. Jim and Zippy always traveled together to the annual St. Paul Ice Fishing Show and was forever a familiar face in the Woodland Resort or Spirit Lake Casino and Resort show booths.

The Perch Patrol will definitely be different without Jim around. He has been a pillar to this organization for a longtime. His leadership and friendship will be greatly missed.

Too much Snow on Devils Lake?
Baahumbug!!! Or Shall we say Baaaahhhmbodeer?

In early February of 2003 it snowed...and the next day it snowed again, the next day it snowed even more. Not too uncommon for Devils Lake, North Dakota. The problem was it never quit. The weather channel would give the local on the 8's and instead of saying chance of snow, they would give the accumulation in inches, to expect each hour.

In three weeks time, Devils Lake was bombarded with over 48 inches of snow. Steve "Zippy" Dahl, the ringleader of the Perch Patrol, was scratching his head. He called a meeting of the Perch Patrol Guides and on the agenda was the possibility of canceling all trips for the remainder of the season. The crew met behind closed doors at Woodland Resort.

The ice on Devils Lake was buried under 3 to 4 feet of heavy snow. Simply put, travel on Devils Lake for ice fisherman was impossible. The Perch Patrol Guide Service, which prides itself on mobility, was left wondering how to navigate through all this snow and still provide a quality trip for their guests. The 4 wheel drive crew cab trucks were definitely not an option. Atv's? Definitely not. Snowmobiles? May work but how can they haul guests and all the equipment. About the only option would be a blackhawk helicopter.

As then Perch Patrol Guide Loren Sateren sat quietly through most of the meeting, an idea came to him. He thought of a friend who lived Fairbualt, Minnesota. This friend owned a Bombadier trail groomer that was left behind from a now defunct local snowmobile club that used this machine back in the 1980s.

Several ideas were discussed regarding how the Perch Patrol could put to use a machine like this. It became rather obvious, that a V plow would also be needed. Instead of grooming trails it would be used more like a miniature bulldozer - busting trails ahead of the caravan of Perch Patrol trucks filled with their guests, of course whom would be warm and comfortable.

The Perch Patrol Guide Staff made a commitment. A commitment that no other Devils Lake guide service made. It was a commitment to excellence. The show must go on. No matter what. Of course safety is always the number 1 priority but the clientele that comes to fish Devils Lake with the Perch Patrol, doesn't come here to play cards in a cabin for three days. They come here to fish.

The rest of the 2003 season, the Perch Patrol Guides grew to love this beast from the east. A caravan of guide trucks following a cloud of freshly blaze snow. Trails were opened and maintained from Black Tiger Bay to the Minnewauken Flats. This was no ordinary fishing trip, it was an adventure. Fighting off the wolf, doing the impossible. The Perch Patrol doing what they do best searching for fish and putting there clients on top of them.

Although not every winter does the Perch Patrol have to resort to such extreme measures to run their guide service, it is nice to know that not too far away sits the bombadier - armed and ready for action. To this day, The Perch Patrol Guide Service remains the only Devils Lake Guide Service that owns a machine like this. The weather is one thing that cannot be controlled. Nobody can predict when history will repeat itself. In fact, just last season, for 3 weeks in 2007, the Perch Patrol was faced with the same situation. Too much snow. Guess what? The show did go on again, no matter what.

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