As Harry Carey used to say Holy Cow! Things have really gotten tough around the Bismarck/Mandan area as of late.
Dropping water temps, spawn, and rising water are making things extremely difficult to put a solid pattern together. You can find the males out in the current right now trolling cranks, but to find where the few pre spawn walleyes are, and also where a few post spawn walleyes are, is another story all together.
Of course everyone is getting pretty tight lipped at the moment with the Big Muddy Walleye Tournament, here out of Bismarck on May 4th. People tend to get a little serious this week.
Another tough factor right now is the weather. We have had rain, snow, wind, cold air temps you name it, the last week or so. Again, this is playing havoc on guys like myself who are on the water everyday trying to follow these fish around.
I am questioning if we even have a lot of fish around here? With the super high water down on Lake Oahe, I think a lot of those fish got hung up down there. I’ll be curious to see if the increase in flows are going to get these fish moving? I sure hope so!
What can I tell you about the fishing on the river. If I wasn’t in the Big Muddy Saturday, I would for sure be up near the Tailrace. Anytime the water gets increased those fish up that way activate. Always have and always will. As far as trying to track these fish down locally, it’s going to be a grind. The weather is supposed to warm up towards the end of the week, and that should help everyone out.
Jigs I feel haven’t been as good as normal and the crankers are in my opinion doing better. I think anytime you have fewer numbers of fish these guys will do better, simply because they are covering more water.
I will be switching up things a little next week. I’ll be spending sometime up at Sakakawea. I will continue to run trips here on the river and also up on Sakakawea through May. I’ll also continue to bring you fishing reports so you’ll know where I’m fishing. If your looking for a trip please dont hesitate to email me! Mikepelusooutdoors@gmail.com to book your trips!