The Peluso Report: Back on Sak

I'm back on Lake Sakakawea this week and the walleye fishing certainly isn't a letdown. This lake has been on fire since the very beginning this year and it hasn't let up a bit.

The walleyes are moving around some. You can still find some really nice fish up shallow. You just need to be a tad more patient with those fish, but in the end the reward is worth it. If you slide out deeper in let's say, 16-to-30-feet of water, you'll find plenty of fish out there also. It just seems like those are a little smaller overall.

My fishing is still the basic slow death rig with half of a crawler, especially with clients. Jigging Raps, however, are really starting to shine! The fish are pulling up on the deeper islands and a person can position on top and do well with both vertical presentation and casting the lures.

I wish I was able to tell everyone to get ahold of me to book a trip. Unfortunately, I'm pretty much filled up in August and a good portion of September is full also. So, some folks are booking for next year or booking a later fall Missouri River trips near Bismarck. Oh, and they're also saying those naughty words for this time of year - "ice fishing" - on Devils Lake this winter.

Mike Peluso is a Dakota Edge Outdoors Contributing Writer and a licensed ND Fishing Guide specializing in walleyes on the state's premier waters.