Hard Gold.  The fall walleye bite has been tough on the Missouri River so far, with warm water and low levels hampering a seasonal move, and those resident fish have plenty to eat in the form of natural forage. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.

By Mike Peluso

I wish I had a better walleye fishing report from the Missouri River here near Bismarck for everyone.  To be honest, the angling was way better two weeks ago. 

Right now out there it feels like mid-September fishing rather than mid-October.  The water is still too warm and way too low.  I’m fearing both of these factors are slowing the migration of walleyes upstream into this area.  

Another key factor I’m seeing is that the river is full of food.  With low water and fewer places for the fish to be, with this much forage it makes catching fish even harder. 

I’m not totally doom and gloom quite yet.  I still feel like things will get going.  We just need to hope it happens before we get buried with snow.  I’ve seen that happen in the fall here more times than one wants.  

I’m still going to continue to guide if you are willing to put your grinder shoes on.  I will also continue to check on things to hopefully be on it when and if the walleyes decide to move north. 

If you want to catch walleyes right now your best bet is a smaller area lake or on Lake Sakakawea up near New Town.  

If you are looking to get out yet this fall with me get ahold of me and let’s give it a go! 

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