Missouri River Fishing Report- April 19th, 2021

Written by Mike Peluso

April 19, 2021

The spawn is on! I was hoping I would be able to tell you it was to holding off as far as the spawn is considered, I was hoping it would hold off a little longer for the spring, but we all know Mother Nature has her way, and her way is right now, so it is what it is and it was time, and this means the spawn is on here near Bismarck.


Yes we are still catching some big hens still full of eggs! We are also catching them all egged out as well. The walleyes are not all are spawning, but the majority will, and all of the sudden they all do their thing. So it has me believing our spawn is a tad bit early, but definitely happening.


This can be good news, and it is always bad news for me as an angler. It feels as though spring is over. We wait all winter and it seems early this spring for this. And like always, it’s like a turn of a light switch. Once they start it goes fast!


The fish are biting and they’ve been biting really well!
Jigs and minnows along very shallow running crank baits in like a #7 presentation are working well. Floaters and husky jerks are also working extremely well.


So what to expect from now until the end of May? Hopefully a lot of good eating size walleyes begin to stage. You can always find these fish all staged up along the faster current edges. Cranks, crawlers and livebait rigs, will all work super well during this timeframe. I think we should see really strong numbers of eating size walleyes from now until the end of May.


I’m still taking bookings for the Missouri River near Bismarck! I’m also taking bookings for Devils Lake and Lake Sakakawea! Get a hold of me and we will book you up a trip!

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