A slower presentation paid off for walleyes on Sakakawea last week, while a wider variety of offerings connected with fish on Devils Lake. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.

By Mike Peluso

This week’s walleye fishing report is once again from both Devils Lake and Lake Sakakawea. I am fortunate enough to have fished both of these bodies of water this past week, and next week will be the same

I’ll start with Sakakawea where there lots of walleyes! They may be a tad on the smaller side overall from earlier this summer, but there are plenty of them. I’ve said it a bunch this summer, do not get married to any particular depth or areas. The fish are constantly moving around on Sakakawea, at least the biters are!

I’m still staying true to the plain hooks and slow death rigs behind a bottom bouncer pulling them a little slower than in years past. Half a crawler and slowing up a little on the marks seems to put fish in the boat, at least the kind I’m looking for to keep clients happy.

If I was fishing any of the tournaments now and in the next few weeks, my approach would be a lot different. Forward facing sonar with an arsenal of jig raps, creeks chubs, and jigs would be the name of the game in chasing down the larger walleyes.

Devils Lake this week was a bit more challenging. A recent hatch, heavy winds, intermittent rain showers and haze all played a factor in the fish activity, but we still caught a pile of fish! There are lots of 13 to 15 inchers on that system right now. You definitely can find the pockets of larger fish, but patience is a virtue.

Spinners, slow death, and prop rigs of every color seemed to produce at times. Covering water also seemed to be the best approach. Keep moving on Devils Lake until you find the bigger and more active fish. All sorts of structure right now will have fish on it. Weeds, rocks, roads, points, and humps all produced and produced at different times.

I have a couple late August open spots for Sakakawea if anyone is interested. Otherwise, it’s October and November on the river near Bismarck. That is going to be epic!

Mike Peluso is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and a licensed ND fishing guide specializing in walleyes on the state’s premier waters.