ND Live Fishing Reports

Fishing reports are updated every Friday and follow the ND Live radio program heard throughout North Dakota

Greg Schoneck

This ain’t fighting like any walleye I ever caught.

If you’re like me it’s get’r in the water, big engine fired up and what is taking him so long. Geez, all he had to do was park the rig. I have a solution that don’t include valium. Forget the big motor, drop the electric and grab a jig’n pole. Concrete boat ramps may be the most overlooked and under fished structure on the lake. Not just walleyes either. This morning it was Smallies.

They come in all sizes from short little 5 footers down in 20 and 30 feet to 50 footers that still have the tops budding leaves. It amazes me how many trees a crank can run through. It also amazes me when all of the sudden the bite is on and it ain’t walleyes doing the biting. With my best lures I keep 3-5 in the plano box and another 5 in the rod locker just in case. Whataya mean we don’t have anymore?

South of Parshall Bay for 10 miles is some of the sweetest fishing on earth. That was until 20 million trees decided to put down roots right in the middle of my cranking area. This section is the biggest flat I know about on Sakakawea and when we can get to it again it will be 4 on at a time. Till then it’s pick a thin spot and hope for the best.

Leadcore is something that intimidated me and I put it off way too long. I was forced to use it in a tournament if I wanted to catch fish and every since I have regretted not getting on board sooner. I don’t like the “take it slow” style leadcore demands of me but I like the results. If you haven’t yet, consider giving it a try, the learning curve is easy.

We found fish in 23-25 feet and they were a bit on the negative side. They would have nothing to do with my bigger deep diving cranks. The solution was drop down little baits on lead. I use a 10 foot fireline leader tied to 18 lb leadcore. A good starting point is 100 feet of line-2 mph-20 feet of water. For each foot deeper let out another 10 ft. This is not a formula but will get you started in the right direction.

I have 10 foot rods out the sides and some little 5 footers I made for going straight out the back. This keeps some separation and allows me to run 4 lines. If a line fouls get it in right away as you ain’t seen twist till you run lead. It might be a good idea to keep an extra spool in the boat. I have needed it more than once.

I use lures I normally run in shallow water. The idea is to get smaller lures down deep and entice a bite. Speed is critical and you will see why on turns. Too tight a turn and the inside line slows, drops and can snag. It can also trigger a bite. I pull around 2 mph and if I need a little more depth I often drop my speed to 1.8. You can also simply let out more line. This is a bit of an art but not nearly as difficult as this sounds.

Today is a Reef Runner Rip Shad Wonder Bread Red day. I went through the tackle box and can’t find another color or style that will catch a fish. Yesterday I could not catch a fish on Wonderbread Red. Ya, color does make a difference. Yesterday with the same conditions it was Blue/Chrome all the way. Most days it is a mix of colors and types.

The fish we are catching are staying close to some small trees or bushes. Yesterday I didn’t lose a single crank. Today I more than made up for it. I stayed pretty cool till the hungry bushes bit down hard and 3 at a time was too much. I moved away from the snags and found some flat sand that made for better pulling but the lure of catching fish drew me back to the structure.

The heart always seems to speak so quietly that I often don’t pay attention. Today the whisper was; “Take it in shallow Schoneck.” After 30 minutes of no fish out deep the message got through. I’m amazed by fish movement. This morning there was not a fish in 10 feet. The answer was to move out deeper on the flat. This afternoon those same fish vacated the deep and went in shallow.  We finished the day with a burst of excitement. Both walleyes and smallmouth in 10 feet.

Boat ramps, why not, you’re just sitting there waiting. Leadcore, way easier than it sounds. Listening to the heart, now that will take some effort, but it could make a real difference. 

Teen Challenge of Mandan is a spiritually based addiction center. ND Fishing Challenge is teaming up to take the guys currently in the program fishing on Sept 11. The event will be in Devils Lake at Lakewood Bible Camp. After the fishing we will have an outdoor fish fry. Several of us plan to make it a weekend. I’m looking for volunteers with boats who will help by taking a couple of the guys out for the day. Let me know if you can join us. It will take some effort but it could make a real difference.

KFYR Radio Reports
Noon Report
Afternoon Report
Evening Report

Google Earth GPS

Remember fishing is a learned sport. More you practice the better you get, so better get fishing!

Greg Schoneck for ND Live