The Peluso Report: Deep Math for Sak Eyes

dakotaedgeoutdoors

Jun 27

Mike Peluso

By Mike Peluso

It's been a week of changing weather with a little of everything up here on Sakakawea. This report may seem off to some and spot on to others who've been out on the lake looking for walleyes and depending on what part of the lake you are on this report may seem inaccurate.

This week we have seen many of the fish showing up out deeper. When I say deeper, the last few days most of the fish have come out of 32-to-45-feet of water.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be talking about walleyes in June this deep. I have a couple thoughts as to why. One, the water has been fairly warm, 68 to 72 degrees average in the portion of lake I fish. Two, we have had some wild weather.

No two days have been alike over the last week and that will have the fish all over the place. Additionally, the water on Lake Sakakawea is rising fast creating a strong current. All of these are playing a factor in where the fish are locating, and there's a change in perspective.

If the fish have been using a depth range of 18-to-25-feet which they have recently, when you gain 7 feet of water it appears the fish slid deeper. In all actuality, they may have slipped just 10 feet deeper as they naturally do this time of year. Add the 10 feet plus the 7 feet rise, and all of the sudden the fish are out in 35 to 40 feet of water!

I'm hoping with the weather stabilizing a tad in the region, so will the walleyes on Lake Sakakawea. I'm not sure why I'm complaining really, as the fishing is still really good. It has just taken a little more work to get them to eat - unlike a couple weeks ago.

Mike Peluso is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and a licensed ND fishing guide specializing in walleyes on the state's premier waters.

Featured Photo: Double the Depth. Walleyes seem deeper on Lake Sakakawea due to warmer water and increasing inflows which are raising the overall level of the reservoir. Remember to keep fish caught deep, as they won't survive the trip up when hooked in 25 feet or deeper. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.