The post spawn walleye bite on the Missouri River has been good for anglers targeting fish around sandbars with a jig-and-minnow combination. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.

By Mike Peluso

Things on the Missouri River remain pretty solid following the spawn. There are lots of fish to be caught, and many of them are being caught right now on a jig and minnow.

The scary part for me at the moment is that the walleyes are moving extremely fast downstream. Upstream is good, downstream for us river rats, not so much. The bigger fish are using the current to help them drift south back into Lake Oahe. Fish are being caught, however, and being caught at a pretty good clip.

The only frustrating part right now is how much the fish are moving and how much we as anglers have to adjust and relocate them. You can pull into a spot and do pretty well, and the next day they may not be there. For that reason, jigs and minnows pitched around the sandbar structure on the river is awesome right now. That doesn’t mean you can’t catch fish in these areas with other techniques. You certainly can and will end up doing really well! It’s hard for me to believe my spring river run near Bismarck is almost over.

With that said, things will begin to fire up on both Sakakawea and Devils Lake. I’ll be switching gears to those bodies of water and issuing their reports starting June 1.

Mike Peluso is a Dakota Edge Outdoors Contributing Writer and licensed ND fishing guide on the state’s premier walleye waters.