Fort Peck Fishing
The following are my fishing results for walleye in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 listed for comparison.
For the last three years, I have kept track of walleyes less than 14 inches or one pound. For 2008, several things stick out. The number of fish both greater than and less than 1 pound increased. The average weight of the fish decreased to the lowest level, while the fish/hour increased to the highest level since I have been keeping track. Also, the number of 10 pound-plus walleyes decreased. So what caused these changes? For a change, Fort Peck Reservoir gained water, so much so that there was water up in the sweet clover. This cause a lot of fish to move shallow and forage in the newly flood terrestrial and/or aquatic vegetation. My fishing style had to change from trolling to pitching jigs. This was very effective on the smaller fish (20" and less), however this is a slow way to fish compared to trolling so you don't contact as many bigger fish (5 pounds and bigger). This is the reason for the decrease in the number of 10 pound-plus walleye from the previous years. Hopefully, the Corps doesn't drop the reservoir so low over the winter that we don't get a good northern pike spawn in the spring. The flooded vegetation will help several forage and predator species. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR FISHING !!! Check out the latest Fort Peck water levels on WalleyesForever.com's Fort Peck Reservoir elevations chart page. Check out some of our recent catches in our Photo gallery. Good luck in your fishing. -- Bernie.  or send me an e-mail at: Bernie@MidRivers.com. |
