Walleyes on Lake Sakakawea are taking to more aggressive tactics, such as smile-bladed rigs trolled quickly from 1 to 1.4 mph. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.

By Mike Peluso

Fishing on Lake Sakakawea from a guide’s perspective is absolutely unreal!

From a tournament angler’s point of view, maybe not so much. What do I mean when I say this? Well, fish 14 to 18 inches are extremely abundant and fairly easy to catch right now, making the lake great for guides, but tougher for those looking for big fish. However, we have mixed in some true giants though. So, it tells me the lake is in great shape for now.

Now you will still find the bulk of the fish in 18 to 25 feet of water. Wind is your friend for sure and make sure you pay attention to it. Slow death rigs and propeller rigs are catching a lot of fish pulled a tad faster than earlier in the season. 1.0 to 1.4 mph seems to trigger the aggressive fish.

I don’t forecast the fishing to slow down anytime soon. The only thing that scares me at the moment is that they are drawing the lake down during a drought.

Summer is definitely on the back 9 now, It is definitely not too early to think ice fishing and to book your ice fishing with me on Devils Lake. Groups of any size can be accommodated. 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.