ND Live Fishing Reports

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

Sound the alarm, ROCK DEAD AHEAD!

Fishing the river is always an adventure, fish or no fish. I tell those who are new to the area to simply follow me, at a safe distance of course, and in no time at all they will know where all the obstructions, sand bars, rocks and trees are. They can then plot a safe course up river. If it can be hit, I’ll hit it. One positive note, I have learned to take it slow.

As to the ROCK. I’m passing this on once more then you are on your own. Just upstream a ¼ mile or so is the infamous rock polished to a sheen by lower unit aluminum. Go to the last report for the Google Earth GPS or put this # in your unit. Give it some room for error, lots of room.
N47'17'32'9 W101'03'01'4 GPS is in Degrees Minutes Seconds. This can be set on your GPS unit.

Two perfect days in a row with no wind and temps in the high 60’s and lower 70’s. Who would guess it is April in ND. The river is extremely low for what I’m used to. It takes me a while to get upstream from the Washburn ramp but I don’t have far to go. I can easily see the bridge just south of me. The past two days I have been tucked into the perfect backwater area with a deep channel of light current.

Water temps are moving up and with the warm days I recorded a high of 44. Many of the walleyes right now are pre-spawn females with just a few spawned out. Not many males showing up for whatever reason. I suspect farther south where water is a bit warmer the spawn is going hard.

Last trip out the fish were all caught on jigs and Gulp. (3 in White Minnow Grub) The past trips’ fish were way more interested in a more traditional approach. Jig and minnow. I did try the Gulp and caught a couple but the live bait was way more interesting to the walleye. I’m of the opinion that it’s best to let the walleye tell you what it wants, so I did.

Walleyes can be temperamental and jig fishing seems to bring that out more than any other presentation. I love the vertical drift but the fish were saying, “No Thanks.” Some of the other boats were pitching out and twitching back with good success. My best presentation was to hold in the current with the electric and pitch directly up stream or at a slight angle and then lift drop back to the boat.

Fish were caught with all presentations but after two days of looking back, the best by far was the upstream pitch. Light winds made it easier to stay in contact with the jig.  The second it touches, a quick lift and 4-5 fast cranks would set it up for another touchdown. It moves pretty fast, actually seems too fast but the walleyes were telling me different.

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

Greg Schoneck for ND Live