Sliding Out.  Walleyes are starting to move deeper on Lake Sakakawea, with trolled rigs like slow death setups and crawler harnesses catching fish consistently. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.

By Mike Peluso

Especially as a kid, and even holding true today for me as an adult, the Fourth of July always marked that point where we are on the second half of summer.  For me back then, I guess it was more like the end of the season because I was closing in on heading back to hockey.  

Fast forward to today and it’s crazy to think that kids will be back in school in a month and half.  For the fishing on Lake Sakakawea, this time of year generally marks when the walleyes start moving out deeper.  

I still feel like we are a couple weeks behind schedule yet.  However, like clockwork, the fish (at least the bulk of the eater-sized walleyes) have definitely slid deeper.  A week ago we were catching a lot of our fish in that 8-to-12-foot range. Today we are seeing more fish in the 18-to-22-foot range up here on Sakakawea.

Another thing you will see is the prop rigs, slow death hooks, and spinners pulled behind bottom bouncers catching more of your fish on the average day. 

Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of the larger walleyes up shallower.  In my line of work we are always looking for the numbers of fish and let me tell you this summer on Sakakawea we have found plenty of those! 

I have one block of dates that opened up for Sakakawea that is available.  Get ahold of me if you are looking to book a trip yet up here.  I also have a few scattered dates for both Sakakawea and Devils Lake for August.  After that I’ll be firing up the fall guide trips on the Missouri River near Bismarck until ice up.

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