DEVILS LAKE (Aug. 4, 2026) – On a pleasant Tuesday afternoon in August, kids and adult volunteers once more congregated at the lake to experience the joy and thrill of catching a fish.
Lure ‘Em For Life, a statewide nonprofit run by volunteers from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, returned to Devils Lake for their annual Lure ‘Em For Life Fish Camp at Lakewood Park Bible Camp, on the east shore of Creel Bay. The specialized summer camp for youths took place from Sunday, Aug. 3, to Thursday, Aug. 7.
The five-day event is a collaboration between the nonprofit and the Devils Lake Park Board. Approximately 40 to 45 children, ranging from ages 8 to 13, are participating in this year’s summer activities. The experiences range from retrieving fish caught in nets cast in the water, to using rod and reel out on a boat on the lake. According to the nonprofit’s Facebook page, the annual event has been taking place for at least 12 years, with the earliest post about the Devils Lake fishing excursion dated Aug. 15, 2014.
“We take kids out on the water fishing for approximately four hours a day,” said James Decker, president of Lure ‘Em For Life. “The other half of the day, they learn fishing tips such as fileting fish, knot tying, jig making, and lure making.”
The kids also learn about boating safety as they venture out on the lake to get their catch of the day. The volunteers who guide and teach them are not paid members. “They volunteer their time to take kids out on the water,” Decker said.
For more information about upcoming events at Lakewood Park Bible Camp, call 701-662-2296, email [email protected], or visit www.lakewoodcamp.com. For more information about Lure ‘Em For Life, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lureemforlife.