By Mike Peluso

The spawn is on for the walleyes of the Missouri River in and around the Bismarck area.  However, I’m never overly excited about the spawn on the river each spring.  It always marks me nearing the end of my spring river guiding.  

The one thing I’ll say however, is that the spawn has definitely come earlier this spring.   I’m not sure if that is due to the lower water conditions or other factors.  I think with less volume of water, the water tends to warm up faster on those summer-like days, kicking those females into spawn mode.  

Fish are being caught all the way up and down the river.  There seems to be a big batch of fish that are just south of Bismarck.  This batch is holding a few of those mega walleyes.  As previously reported, we normally see three waves of the spawn each spring.  With this lower water this season we will have to wait and see if that holds.

As for presentation, jigs and minnows, or jigs and plastics pitched up shallow have been the best options.  Any slack water area will be holding the bulk of the walleyes in a given stretch of the river.  The males are around the females right now but they are a little preoccupied at the moment.  I have one day available to guide on the river yet this spring on May 6.  If you want it, get ahold 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.

Photo: Full Spawn Mode.  The walleyes on the Missouri River are in spawning mode as lower water levels have likely influenced their seasonal movements as those shallows heat faster with less water. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.