By Mike Peluso

Things are just starting to get going here on the Missouri River near Bismarck. The weather has been a little up and down, but it’s trying to get better, and it has given us a few little windows to get out.

It seems like once you are out there you will see some life. Of course, the further south you go the more and bigger fish you will see, which is pretty normal for early spring walleyes on the Big Muddy. As the spring continues, the fish will find their way all throughout the river.

So far for us it has been pitching jigs and plastics or jigs and minnows out away from the boat. You need to be very methodical with your retrieval of the bait. The fish are locating out off the current seams mostly. They like to be near the main channel for an easy swim to safety so to speak.

The fish are also very spooky especially this time of year. Try to avoid making a lot of noise with your main engines. You will see fish on your electronics entering a spot, but if you are watching these fish with live scope, you will see them scattering away from the boat.

The key to your success right now is sneaking into your spot, casting the jigs out away from the boat, and bringing the jigs back slowly. If you do these three things, you will put walleyes in the boat. I have a couple openings in the near term with rescheduling. If you want to get out on the water, 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.

Featured Photo: Well, well, well!  The spring walleye bite is starting up on the Missouri River near Bismarck, with best bets for fish in the live well coming south of town in the early goings. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.