It is with heavy hearts and sadness that we inform you of the passing of Pete Harsh “Mr. Tiller.” Pete was a key and valuable member of the Perch Patrol Guide Service Team and was an absolute iconic legend in the fishing industry. He was one of the top 5 all-time money winners in the history of professional walleye fishing. Pete was given the nickname Mr. Tiller for his love of operating tiller style boats. He enjoyed the boat control and considered this a key advantage he had over other competing anglers. Because of Pete’s success, he was able to influence boat manufacturers and motor companies to install these bigger tiller style motors on boats at a time when tiller motors were on their way out. Think of how many of us anglers fish out of tiller boats these days thanks to Pete Harsh!

We here at the Perch Patrol Guide Service will miss Pete Harsh in many ways. So many of us are better anglers because of Pete. He was such a unique soul with a great sense of humor and so much personality, attention to detail, determination, and caring for others. The stories that Pete told were perpetual and most often one would lead to the next. A trait that all of us will miss as well as his long list of customers that he enjoyed guiding year after year.   


ZIPPY DAHL

Zippy is the owner, operator of the Perch Patrol Guide Service.  Zippy has been guiding on Devils Lake for 26 years and is one of the Perch Patrol’s founding members.  Zippy has represented the Perch Patrol as a feature on numerous outdoor television shows,  magazine articles, and radio shows.   Zippy was born and raised here and has fished the entire Devils Lake system his entire life.  Aside from managing the day to day operation of guide service, Zippy is also a full time, year-round guide for the Perch Patrol.


TOM BACKER

Tom is originally from Fargo, ND and is has been guiding for the Perch Patrol for 16 seasons.  Prior to that, Tom fished and competed professionally for 30 years on the Professional Walleye Trail, RCL and FLW, MWC, and Aim tournaments.  Tom has a ton of both open water and ice fishing experience is a full time, year-round guide for the Perch Patrol.

 

TANNER THOMAS

Tanner is a native of Devils Lake, North Dakota and has been a guide for the Perch Patrol for 9 years.  Tanner’s love for fishing developed growing up fishing Devils Lake as a kid and is very knowledgeable on the fishing opportunities on the entire Devils Lake basin system.  Tanner is a full time, year-round guide for the Perch Patrol.


TANNER PAINE

Tanner is also a native of Devils Lake, North Dakota and has been guiding for the Perch Patrol for 9 seasons.  Tanner also grew up fishing the waters of Devils Lake and is going to be rejoining our staff for the open water season as a full time, year-round guide for the Perch Patrol.

 
ZACH SCHEMIONEK

comes to us from Glennwood City, Wisconsin and has been a Perch Patrol Guide for 5 years.  Zach’s father Gerald was a Devils Lake native as was the Schemionek family.  Zach’s favorite memories visiting his grandparents was all the fishing opportunities that Devils Lake provides.  His goal as a youngster was to move here and make his living in the fishing industry.   It is easy to see by the smile on his face, that Zach is living his dream!  Zach is also a full time, year-round guide for the Perch Patrol.

 
TYLER ELSHAUG 

Tyler is a Devils Lake native and has been guiding for the Perch Patrol for 5 years.  Tyler is the son of a Devils Lake ice fishing legend Larry Elshaug, whom in his prime wore out more gas powered Jiffy augers than anyone that has ever ice fished Devils Lake!  That’s how Tyler was raised. A hard working, hole drilling, fish finding fanatic!  Tyler is a full time, year-round guide for the Perch Patrol.

 
ALEX RESLOCK

Alex is a Devils Lake native and has been guiding ice fishermen for 6 seasons.  He was raised on the shoreline of Devils Lake and began fishing at a very young age.  He knows the entire Devils Lake system and knows all about the effort it takes to find the next school of fish.  Alex has a burning desire to guide or be a charter boat captain on the Lake Michigan or Alaska during the summer months.   BUT…He promises to return for the ice fishing season!

 
Korey sprengel

Korey Sprengel is from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and has been guiding for the Perch Patrol for 6 seasons.  Korey has fished and competed professionally for 11 seasons in National Walleye Tour and is one of the hottest professionals on the circuit.  Korey just finished an amazing season winning a tournament in Oconto/Green Bay, Wisconsin, and a 2nd place finish at the NWT Championship in Lake Erie, Ohio.  He also won the most coveted award in professional walleye fishing which is the Angler of the Year. 

 
DEVAN SUNDEEN

Devan Sundeen was born and raised in Devils Lake and has spent the majority of his life with either a fishing rod or shotgun in his hands.  Although this is Devan’s first season joining the Perch Patrol Guide Service as a winter guide, he has guided for Mitchell’s Guide Service and the Perch Patrol Guide Service during the open water session for the past 5 years.  Devan also has been a key member of Northern Flight Guide Service the past 3 waterfowl seasons and has achieved great success as one of the leading guides in the bird count column year after year.   Devan has also gained tons of experience on the ice working with the Woodland Resort Ice Crew/Rental houses the past few years.

 
BRANDON GRUCHOW

Brandon Gruchow has been guiding with the Perch Patrol team for 5 years during the summer months.  However, Brandon has been fishing Devils Lake since 2010.  At first Devils Lake was a favorite destination for Brandon and his wife to fish for fun, dabble in some tournaments, tubing and swimming, making fantastic family memories. Being a full time teacher and head wrestling coach keeps him busy September through May but  now as a summer fishing guide June through August allows him to share his passion for fishing by helping others catch fish and create lifelong memories on the beautiful and amazing Devils Lake.

 
LARRY GRUBE

Larry has been fishing Devils Lake since 2000 and has been guiding as a valuable member of the Perch Patrol during the summer months the past 6 years.   Larry likes to use live bait probably more than anyone on our team and he loves all the various methods that present it.   His favorite method is jigging deep water structure, but also enjoys slip bobbers and trolling spinners.   Larry is very professional and is also very personable with his guests.   Watching the many smiles and laughter to go along with catching fish is one of his greatest accomplishments.

 
Craig JohnsoN

Craig Johnson comes to us from Rolette, North Dakota and has been fishing Devils Lake for the past 15 years.  Craig owns and operates a 26 foot fishing pontoon and is the first Perch Patrol Guide to guide out of a pontoon.   This is an attempt to take care of families that want to fish together with more than 3 people and also groups that may have someone with a handicap that wants to fish as his boat is wheel chair accessible.   Craig does a lot of jigging as well as slip bobber fishing.  Craig is a very patient person and you will find him to be very kind and helpful.  Yes, he also has a long net and is quite talented with it!

 
Eric Strub

We would like to introduce Eric Strub and welcome him to our team! Eric is originally from Orr, Minnesota but has lived in North Dakota the past 18 years. Eric is no stranger to guiding as he owns and operates All Flocked Up Outdoors Waterfowl Guide Service and also is a guide for Northern Flight Guide Service in the fall. Eric has also worked on the Woodland Resort Ice crew. Eric will be a year round fishing guide for the Perch Patrol and we are excited to work with him and have him on our team!

 
Matt Thom

We would like to introduce Matt Thom as our newest member of the Perch Patrol Guide Service! Matt is originally from Spiritwood, North Dakota and grew up fishing walleyes and panfish on sloughs, reservoirs, and rivers in the “pothole” region around Jamestown, ND. The past 5 years Matt lived in Bismarck, ND where he was a salesman for Scheels and Moritz Marine and did some guiding on the Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea. Matt has also spent countless hours fishing Devils Lake competing in tournaments. Our crew will enjoy working with Matt as we welcome him to our team as a full time year round guide.