Missouri River Fishing Report- April 26th, 2026

Written by Mike Peluso

April 26, 2026

The spawn is on.  I’m never overly excited about the spawn on the river each spring.  It always marks me nearing the end of my spring river guiding.  

The one thing I’ll say however, is it’s definitely earlier this spring.   Not sure if thats due to the lower water conditions?  I think with less volume of water, the water tends to warm up faster on those summer like days, kicking those females into spawn mode.  

Fish are being caught all the up and down the river.  There seems to be a big batch of fish that are just south of Bismarck.  This batch is holding a few of those mega walleyes.  We normally see 3 waves of the spawn.  With this lower water we will have to wait and see.  

Jigs and minnows, jugs and plastics pitched up shallow has been the best.  Any slack water area is holding the bulk of the fish.  The males are around the females right now but they are a little preoccupied at the moment.  I have one day available to guide on the river yet this spring.  May 6th.  If you want it get ahold me!

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