Larger walleyes are coming on the Missouri River in and around Bismarck on a vertical presentation of a jig and minnow, and action for keeper-sized fish has remained constant over the past two weeks on the flow. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso. 

By Mike Peluso

The fall walleye bite is definitely going strong on the Missouri River near Bismarck right now.  I spent a lot of time and effort on the river in September and October looking for a steady bite, even though I know from my past experience that deer openers are typically the benchmark for when the season’s bite is best.  This year it was right on the mark.

In September and October we did catch fish, however, you had to grind your tail off to get them.  I will say this, all that time spent paid off and has made the past few week even more rewarding!  

Jigs and minnows pitched out to the current seams has been amazing for numbers. I can honestly say that the experience can be called “catching” not “fishing.”  What’s amazing to me however, is that the biggest walleyes in that  26-to-30 inch range, have come from the deeper water while fishing the same presentation vertically. 

Almost all of the docks up and down the Missouri River in the Bismarck area have been removed for the season, so pick your launch and loading area with that in mind.  

The weather looks decent for roughly the next 10 days, so if you want to get in on this bite get ahold of me!  I just wish I could freeze time because it doesn’t get any better than this!

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