By Mike Peluso

Even with the long autumn, it’s hard to believe that my 2024 open water guide season is just about over. I have only a couple more trips planned for walleyes on the Missouri River and I’m definitely going to miss it. I want to say thanks to everyone I was able to spend time with in the boat this summer. It sure was another banner year!

Here’s what’s been happening on the river here near Bismarck in the last seven days. The smelt ran pretty good last week and now they have thinned down some or spread out a little. It seems like the walleyes have turned the corner and have gotten aggressive.

The bites are a lot more violent than they were most of the fall. We pretty much caught limits every day on the water since October 1. We had to work for them through October, but now it’s pretty easy to catch your fish in fairly short order.

Vertical jigging minnows and pitching jigs have taken most of the walleyes this past week. The water temperatures have finally hit the mid-40s and that is usually the fall turning point. Now the only question is will we get decent enough weather to take advantage of it?

It looks like things may turn colder looking at the 10-day forecast. I can guarantee you this, if weather allows, I’ll be out there until I have to return to Devils Lake for the upcoming winter guide season.

Speaking of that, I along with Perch Eyes Guide Service out of Minnewaukan, ND will be able to help you put together your ice fishing adventure this coming winter, if you are interested in chasing walleyes and perch on Devils Lake. Get ahold of us!

Until that time, I’ll still be bringing you fishing reports and ice conditions/ice fishing reports. Thanks for reading and thanks again to everyone who fished with me this summer!

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: Eaters Eating.  Walleyes of all sizes are aggressively feeding on the Missouri River, where water temperatures have dropped into the forties, spurring a strong bite. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.