By Nick Simonson

From all indications, the Missouri River is set for an epic spring of angling with relatively steady weather conditions and limited fluctuation in water levels allowing anglers to get out and experience great fishing for the water’s walleyes.  According to fishing guide Mike Peluso, the fish and the flow are in good shape, and anglers are finding healthy walleyes up and down the Missouri River from the discharge at Garrison Dam to the headwaters of Lake Oahe.

“[The walleyes] must be finding lots of food, because I’ll tell you what, they look fantastic. There must be a pretty good base forage in here right now. I know we see a lot of smelt and some shiners and gizzard shad and herring and all of that stuff. And they must be finding all of the above because it seems like the fish 12 to 14 inches are extremely healthy, and those fish that area up into that 30-inch range are extremely healthy,” Peluso states of the Missouri River’s current walleye population he’s observed in his last two weeks on the water, when compared to the last several decades of guiding.

Traditional spring presentations on the water are working well, with jigs being the main go-to at this time, either dressed with a minnow for live bait or a larger plastic to trigger a reaction bite.  Natural colors in white and silver tend to be the better producers at this time in the unusually clear waters currently comprising the flow, over brighter colors such as chartreuse which typically shine in dingier water.  With those color choices, Peluso suggests a long cast and a slow retrieve for walleyes right now.

“The river is nicknamed ‘Big Muddy’ and it normally this time of year it is, but we just didn’t get any runoff into some of the tributaries,” explains Peluso, adding the clear water has required some adjustments to catch fish, “I’m taking a little different approach this year; we’re anchor-locking in a lot of these spots and we’re casting our jigs basically as far as you can cast them to get them out away from the boat, because the  fish are a little spooky and a little skittish of any noise and anything over their heads.”

There’s little waiting by anglers in the area and those visiting from around the state, as ramps have been open since the middle of March with limited snow and ice since that time and the bite has been solid since early on.  Peluso details stories of success coming from up and down the river, and each likely fish-holding spot seems to have its own set of walleyes for anglers to pursue. 

“It’s hard for me to say it’s going to get better, because it’s certainly as good as it’s ever been at this time of year, especially this early.  I just think it’s going to get progressively better and better.  Typically out here, that spawn will start that last week in April and basically will run a week or two sometimes into May.  I think our best fishing is ahead of us, and I think it’s just going to get better, which is hard for me to believe,” he concludes.  

Simonson is the lead writer and editor of Dakota Edge Outdoors.

Featured Photo: Mike Peluso shows off one of the Missouri River’s healthy walleyes. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.