Warm Water Walleye: Good Morning and Great Fishing to all of you! I follow your posted exploits regularly, and respond occasionally... My wife and I get to head to east/central Montana...

ReelT Loc: Montana

Good Morning and Great Fishing to all of you! I follow your posted exploits regularly, and respond occasionally...

My wife and I get to head to east/central Montana to fish Fort Peck Reservoir for walleye, pike and bass tomorrow. Our first trip there. (For those unfamiliar, the reservoir is the largest lake on the Missouri River and has more shoreline than California has coastline.)

Reports are that the walleye bite is slowing and spotty as the water warms and the fish move deeper.

Do any of you have suggestions for catching walleye after the spring bite starts to decline? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Will try to send pictures if we succeed in catching fish on this exploratory first trip

Thanks!
Reel Thankful

JRK227 Loc: Cedarburg, WI

Head for deeper water. Troll crankbaits to locate fish. Utilize your electronics to spot pods of fish. Fish schools with jig and minnow combos or jig and half a crawler. Walleyes will feed in shallower water at night and very early morning.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

I'll second what uncut said, he is right on the money. You might even try trolling a spinner, plain crawler or minnow, or a lure, with a rather heavy bottom bouncer, 1 oz. - 2 oz. We usually fish Lake Oahe in SD. and Devil's Lake in ND., with just a crawler and a bottom bouncer. In Devil's Lake, you have to fish them at night, and they like a little spinner in front of that crawler. If you have a little wind, drifting will be fine, but usually there is too much wind. It's the same water system that you are going to be fishing. My first stop would be at a local tackle shop and ask some questions. Try to talk to some locals or some guest that have fished it a lot. Good Luck & Tight Lines, let us know how you do. Pictures work!

ReelT Loc: Montana

Thanks Uncut6!
Will definitely work those ideas!

When you suggest “deeper” where might you start? The lake runs from shoreline to 85’ deep. I’m guessing it might be 30 or 40 to start the trolling search and sonar for pods of fish...

Thank you again! Will definitely send pictures .

ReelT Loc: Montana

Thanks flyguy!
Will run down your list of suggestions.
Planning to ask for help when we arrive.
Just learned there will be a walleye tournament just after we leave so we should have a concentration of experienced anglers arriving to “prefish” the area. Hopefully, some of them will offer some help.

Thanks again!

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

ReelT wrote:

Thanks flyguy!
Will run down your list of suggestions.
Planning to ask for help when we arrive.
Just learned there will be a walleye tournament just after we leave so we should have a concentration of experienced anglers arriving to “prefish” the area. Hopefully, some of them will offer some help.

Thanks again!

I wouldn't count on the pros giving you any help. In fact, walleye fishermen are, as a rule, are very tight lipped, and if they do say anything, question it, because it may not be true. I don't know why they are like this, but they are. if you notice 3 or 4 boats in an area, it might be worth while to slip over there to give it a little shot. Try to see what they are using and how they are using it. It could be that a trip down to the cleaning shack might be worth it. Whatever it take to put yourself on fish. Usually, your best tips come from a neighbor to your cabin, if they are catching fish. It could cost you a beer, but thats o.k. Get'er done!

ReelT Loc: Montana

Thanks much!
Will make sure we have a beer or two along!

Wally West Loc: SW Nebraska

Be aware that any walleye brought up from approximately 40' and deeper will most likely die as a result of pressure change.

Wally West Loc: SW Nebraska

Be aware that any walleye brought up from approximately 40' and deeper will most likely die as a result of pressure change.

ReelT Loc: Montana

Hey Fishing Friends!
Back from Fort Peck after an eventful 5 days.
Fishing is always a blessing, the catching was a bit more challenging. Walleye were fewer than we had hoped for, but we both caught our personal bests at 20”. Also caught small mouth, yellow perch, drum, Cisco’s, red eye, and northern pike. It was always exciting - never sure what we’d pull up from the lake.
My wife of 42 years , again, caught the big fish of the trip with a 33” Northern.
I love fishing with that lady.

Thanks flyguy and Wally for the insights and suggestions. We were able to bottom bounce worm and leeches as well as fish the crank sits for the first time.
So many “firsts” on this trip!

Thanks again!
Reel Thankful

ReelT Loc: Montana

Just back from Fort Peck fishing trip.
Thanks for the great insights and suggestions.
We had a ball. Caught 4 new species of fish we’d never caught before. Both of us caught 20” walleye (our personal best) and Northern Pike (my wife caught the biggest at 33”.

So fun.
Thanks again!
Reel Thankful