34 inches of Sakakawea Sauger

Tobacco Gardens is just 25 miles north of Watford City. Who would think of it as a world class fishing destination? Two days of the best Sauger fishing I have ever experienced including 34 unbelievable inches of Sauger on a Reef Runner Rip Shad. World Class!

Jeff and Bobbie drove in from Williston and met me at the café. This is my first exposure to Tobacco Gardens, sure not to be my last. I’ll tell you this much after my first 15 minutes. Way exceeds my expectations. Clean paved roads right to the water including the campground area. Great ramp, gas on the water, bait and tackle, café, the list goes to include ND hospitality that quickly transcends to friendship.

First hot weather this year and it’s making up for the late showing with high 90’s and little to no wind. We got started just east of the mouth of the bay in the area locally know as the beacon. First go is  fireline and cranks and then we put down leadcore with smaller cranks. As the day progressed our journey east continued well past the scoria and Three Sisters area. It is a fish here, a fish there but no real hot spot.

It was Jeff who suggested Bumble Bee, a Reef Runner color that is as, in your face, bright as you can get. It’s also my last choice in clear water, just too overpowering. Bobbie, Jeff’s wife would disagree however as she holds up the proof, a Sakakawea Sauger. We make a few more moves using the deep diving Reef Runners and finally settle into a stretch directly east of the pipeline. Turns out Sauger ain’t the only thing that likes bright colors in clear water. Jeff’s northern went for a blaze orange Oahe Red Perch.

It is dead still, no wind, death valley melting hot as we end the day with a couple limits of Sauger. Not ideal fishing conditions but apparently not so bad that a couple of limits of Sauger would refuse a ride home. A stop at the cleaning station and Jeff and Bobbie head out for Williston. I get a chance to meet Rex, tomorrow’s fishing partner and settle into my cabin here at Tobacco Gardens. 

Peggy, owner-operator and full time Grandmother goes over the morning operational details with Jud. I’m on my 5^th cup of coffee and just coming around when the eggs and bacon show up. Ya, I feel pampered. And to think after this I get to go fishing. Life is good and it’s gonna get better!

Rex and I launch out and before we get out of the marina Tom yells at us from across the bay. “Try my spot, fish are probably still there.” Included were directions, color and speed. Now you tell me, when was the last time people lined up on the bank to shout out their fishing hot spot as you were leaving for a day of fishing? I’m telling you, Tobacco Gardens will way exceed your expectations. Not convinced yet? Stay with me for another paragraph, we still haven’t discussed the 34 inches of Sauger.

Rex and I hit the bay mouth and turn west, opposite direction of yesterdays excursion and right on track with Tom’s suggestions. 39 minutes from start to finish. We have our first limit of 18-21 inch Sauger in the livewell and on Twitter. Consider joining Twitter as I often put up pictures of fish as we catch ‘em. Personally I think we could have done it in 18 if we’d dropped a camera overboard and paid attention to fishing.

We are feeling pretty cocky by now and have convinced ourselves we are the stuff fishermen are made of. I measure an 18 ½ inch Sauger just so I can brag about letting it go. Rex is putting the bend in the rod on yet another heavy fish when I hear him say, “Somethings funny here.” My brain is tripping a breaker as I try to process what my eyes are seeing. What is up with this? Did the lines cross and we have two Sauger tangled together. Nope, other three lines are free and running clear. I don’t believe it so how can I expect someone else to buy this tall tale? Two Sauger on one crank? Naw, can’t be. Rex comes to first and reminds me we have a camera along. A few pictures later Rex and I are smiling like two kids in the cookie jar. STATEMENT OF THE DAY award goes to Rex who after we measure the 15 and 19 inch Sauger says, “Got any cranks with 3 hooks?”

I should mention it’s not even close to noon yet. How much of this can a guy take. Get me another one of those Valium to calm my nerves. Bumble Bee continues to sting Sauger all day long and Flame, another hot Reef Runner color is tied for first place. We are fishing the deep diving Reef Runners 45 feet back on 10-4 fireline crystal followed by the same colors in Little Ripper Deep, 75 feet back. I’m shooting for 18 feet as there seems to be a clear area of bottom between 15 and 20 feet. Swing out too far and bottom comes up to meet you in the form of underwater trees. Same if you get too close to shore. Speed is important today and we max out the Reef Runners at about 3.2 mph. Reef Runners are tuff to tune but more than worth every minute spent getting them ready for action.

Later afternoon the heat really comes on as dead calm cranks up the thermostat. We pass a pontoon and hear delightful squealing and decide it has to be another fish. Sure enough, Mr. Walleye joins the stringer of Sauger and Whitebass. I have totally missed telling you about the good northern fishing Rex is experiencing. The rest of the afternoon is more of the same 3 directions from Tobacco Gardens.

Sauger fanatics would cross several states to experience fishing this good. It’s not just the numbers but size as well. Our best fish measured in at 21 but as I bragged earlier we were releasing 18 ½ inch fish early in the day. Cranks in yellow pulled fast may be, in my mind, best but everyone is catching fish using traditional walleye tactics. You don’t need to go deep as is often the case with Sauger. As mentioned, we fished 18 feet but others are in 15 or less. World Class Sauger fishing, Tobacco Gardens will surely exceed you’re expectations. Might even double it. “You find one of those cranks with 3 hooks yet?”

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