High Launch.  A recent influx of water due to significant rains has muddied the waters of the Missouri River and raised water levels, as evidenced at the many launches. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.

By Mike Peluso

Muddy waters and lots of wind and rain have been the story for this week when it comes to fishing walleyes on the Missouri River in and around Bismarck.  The conditions have caused a few cancellations which has actually kept me off the water for the past couple of days. 

However, I was able to fish the Reel n Rec tournament this past Saturday and to my surprise we actually caught a lot of fish.  It’s amazing, but even with the muddy and rising water on the Missouri River the walleyes still decided to bite and in pretty good numbers. I had my doubts, I can’t lie. 

There are lots of 14-to-16-inch fish in the river right now with a few larger fish still hanging around.  I only have two more trips left here on the river before I venture out to Devils Lake for about a month.  It is still hard for me to believe the spring in coming to an end. 

With all the drastic changes in conditions and the weather,  it’s hard to say what the fish will do.  I know it’s going to be a whole new ball game on the river for a bit.  I would imagine as soon as things settle back in you can anticipate another good month here locally of catching good eater sized walleyes. 

As far as Devils Lake is concerned, I think that will need the same to happen.   If we get some stable weather, I believe that the bite will respond.  I’m looking forward to casting and bobber fishing for the next couple of weeks for sure.  It’s a great change of pace for me. 

I’ll spend about three weeks at Devils Lake and then I’ll take the guiding over to Lake Sakakawea.  Everything I’m hearing up there has me very excited about how that will go as well.  Lots of really nice walleyes being caught already on the big lake. 

We are so spoiled here in North Dakota to have such great fisheries at our fingertips.  So if you are looking to get out,  just pick one of the Big Three or take your pick of one the prairie lakes the ND Game and Fish have done such a great job creating opportunities on.  You can’t go wrong!

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