ND Live Fishing Reports

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

Greg Schoneck

“You’re in trouble Schoneck.” Ya, tell me about it

Three years ago this area was a mine field of 100 year old stumps camouflaged by 18 inches of water.  Quietly waiting for an opportunity to chew a lower unit off the back of your boat. Today with water levels at 1847, just 5 feet short of full, those same stumps are 40 feet down. The lifecycle of a reservoir is often harsh but the rewards of transformation sweet.

I’ve outgrown my need for camping unless it gets me closer to the boat ramp. Lewis & Clark State Park does just that. With a badlands backdrop it is easy to escape to a time undisturbed by busyness. Down the lake a ways is Lund’s Landing. Nestled tight in an ash coulee draw with all you could hope for in a lake resort including homemade pie.

I like help, reports, specific info, locations, GPS numbers. Today I’m armed with nothing but my wits. “You’re in trouble Schoneck.” Ya, tell me about it.  Water levels have us all fishing a new reservoir and the fish are as displaced as the fishermen.  It’s one of those days when you just go fishing. Where do you begin in a lake that stretches beyond the horizon?

I like to start shallow and move out if I have to. With a submerged tree line beginning at 14 feet I got up next to the cottonwoods and started the day. First guest was Mr. Northern but he didn’t stay long. Wasn’t invited in the first place. So the morning went. Make a pull, move, make a pull, move.

The high flows from the Yellowstone in MT bring a lot of the badlands to ND and it settles out in the upper section of Sakakawea. Water is a little dirty today so lure color can be important. I tend toward the oranges and yellows in off colored water. Reef Runner’s Mud Minnow, Flame, or Bumblebee all can be good. First pick would be Mud Minnow and I always have a Firetiger down, at least to get started.

Yet another move, crossing the lake from Beaver to the south shore. I started in 14 again but got too shallow and found our first walleye by accident. Call me simple but I figerd why not stay shallow for a while. Number two came in 12 feet and that is where I stayed for most of the day.

No pattern, no perfect speed, all I have sorted out today is most fish like a Bomber 24a dressed in Firetiger, 12 feet down. I should have mentioned when talk’n about color that white can be good in dirty water. I have a few Wonderbread Black in the Bombers but nothing going today, not even a Northern.

My hopes were high with the first fish and when the second Walleye came in the same area I expected an easy limit. Who invented expectations anyway? They should come with one of those 3 paragraph warnings you get with a prescription. May cause delusions. May cause sudden depression. Can leave you feeling---, well you get the picture.

Geez how I’d like to come home and brag about the great day on the water. How I cunningly evaluated the facts and sorted through each nuance to put together a winning limit. BUT. One more Walleye and my limit was over. I did go through a fun bunch of White Bass and the small Saugers have me hopeful of better days coming.

No Sakakawea is not what she used to be. I remember days of 100 plus fish and limits of released Walleyes averaging well over 6. I also remember days of low, low, water and low, low, fish numbers. Sakakawea has us a bit on the spoiled side and when she ain’t up to snuff I can be hard on her. Transformation, we haven’t arrived, but we are in the process. The big stuff is just around the corner, maybe even the next move.

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

Greg Schoneck for ND Live