Gold on the Go.  Walleyes have begun their fall movements in earnest up the Missouri River, and anglers are finding more and more aggressively-feeding fish in and around the Bismarck stretches of the flow as the cold-water season approaches. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso

By Mike Peluso

The walleye fishing has definitely picked up over the last week on the Missouri River near Bismarck. We are starting to see more and more fish making their way up river and are starting to catch walleyes in town now so you don’t necessarily have to drive way down south anymore to get into some fish.

The best part of it now is that you can catch them anyway you like to fish. If you want to pitch jigs and plastics, that is working. Trolling cranks is working too, and my favorite, jigs and minnows are doing the best.

Each day and spot takes on a different attitude. One day the fish are up shallow on the sand and the next day they are laying out deeper along the current seams. You’ve just got to trust your electronics to see the movements each day.

I still have some pre-booked guide days this week on the schedule. Starting Nov. 1 if weather permits, and you want to jump out, get ahold of me. I typically don’t schedule trips but still go on short notice if the day is open. With the forecast, it looks like we should still be able to get out and take advantage of the fall bite.

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