Moving North.  Larger walleyes are making their spring migration up the Missouri River and are holding just south of Bismarck on the flow.  Larger offerings are connecting anglers with some big fish right now. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso. 

By Mike Peluso

Things are in full swing for walleyes out here on the Missouri River near Bismarck.  The fish are making their way upriver from Lake Oahe and the big girls are staging just south of Bismarck. 

If you like to pitch jigs, now is the time to do so.  You can catch numbers pitching out towards the current seams and letting the jig roll downstream slowly.  The fish are fairly aggressive and are popping it pretty hard. 

There seems to be a huge number of fish and some really big fish just south of town right now.  As this full moon approaches, more fish will push up from Oahe.  They always seem to come up in waves each spring. 

If you want to catch that personal best or even possibly a state record walleye, jigs with big plastics, creek chubs on rigs, and shallow running crank baits are your best options for the bigger fish. 

All the ramps in the Bismarck area except for Hoge Island are open.  Some are more user friendly than others.  If you are a novice, Fox Island and the Desert boat landings are probably your best bet.  Misty Waters was opened up but I talked to a buddy who used it.  He said they were able to get out going downstream but they had to have someone grab their truck and run it down to Fox Island to load.  They couldn’t get back upstream with the low water and sand. 

The new Mandan Car Bodies ramp is nice, but the flow out in front of the ramp isn’t the easiest with currents pushing the boats sideways right by the dock.  So it’s more of a two-person operation if you want to use that ramp. 

I’m seeing anglers releasing fish and not just stuffing livewells full.  Especially with those bigger female walleyes being caught south of town.  Kudos to you anglers not just fishing for the “livewell” shot and being responsible out there.  

My guide season is in full swing now and there is no turning back until the end of August when I typically slow things down.  I do have opening for Devils Lake and Lake  Sakakawea this summer.  So, if you are looking for a trip get ahold of me! 

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