Close to Home.  The author has found great fishing in many spots right out his back door this spring for walleyes on the Missouri River. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.

By Mike Peluso

It is hard to believe how fast this spring is going.  It feels like just yesterday I walking down to the river in front of my house to look at the ice chunks floating and the shorelines still white. 

The Big Muddy walleye tournament is always the pinnacle of the spring walleye fishing season out here on the Missouri River.  I’ve fished hundreds of tournaments in my lifetime, and this one is without a doubt the hardest of them all. There is literally a 100-team field and all of them, if they have a good day, can win this one.  There are very few, if any, secrets out there anymore with the technology and the knowledge people have and the information travels fast. 

I was happy with our day! My personal goal for the tournament was to fish it and fish spots alone. If you can believe this, mission accomplished!  Of course, I knew of about six spots I really wanted to fish and one of them is right in front of my house.  Unfortunately, I knew boats would be in them, and I wasn’t willing to do that.  My fish were caught using two proven methods: pulling creek chubs and pitching jigs.  It’s amazing how good people have become at using these methods over the years. 

I’ve guided that spot all spring long and I’ll get to fish it plenty more yet before spring guide season out here on the river is over.  It’s been a great season being able to stay close and fish spots pretty much alone, just an amazing time for sure.  

Anyways, congrats to the winners!  I wasn’t able to get around to everyone at the weigh in like I wish I could have.  If I missed you, I’m sorry and I am sure I’ll see you, probably on the water somewhere.  

I also want to thank my tourney partners Gene Merck and TJ Irey.  I’m not sure I have the energy to fish this tournament much longer.  Guiding every day takes a toll on a guy and I’m not as young as I used to be, but I’m sure with a little arm twisting I’ll probably be swayed to do it one last time. 

I have roughly two more weeks out here on the river before heading to Devils Lake.   I’ll be there until mid-June and then I’ll head to Sakakawea where the summer’s reports will come from, and I am looking  forward to it.

Mike Peluso is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and a licensed ND fishing guide specializing in walleyes on the state’s premier waters.