If you’ve stepped outside lately, you know the weather is doing its best “arctic blast” impression. But according to the man on the scene, Don Wilkins, the fish didn’t get the memo that they’re supposed to be hunkering down. Despite the wind trying to blow us back to last Tuesday, the bite is officially heating up.
Here is the “Don’s-Eye View” of what’s happening on the water at Fort Peck:
The Walleye Situation: Shallow & Shifty
The Walleye are currently hanging out in the “Goldilocks Zone”—not too deep, not too shallow. You’ll find them anywhere from 5 feet to about 14 feet.
The Winning Strategy:
- The Hardware: Don’s been leaning on the $1/4$ oz VMC Moon Eye fathead jigs and $1/4$ oz Walleye Hunter Fishing Tackle swimbait jigs.
- The Color Palette: It’s all about the “Big Bite” swimbaits.
- Water looking like chocolate milk? Go dark.
- Water clearing up? Switch to the lighter shades.
“Walleye fishing on Peck is picking up despite the cold windy weather we’ve had,” Don reports. “A 1/4 ounce VMC Moon eye fathead jig and a 1/4 ounce Walleye Hunter Fishing Tackle swimbait jig have caught most of our fish.”
The Laker Report: Deep & Steady
If Walleye aren’t your speed, the Lake Trout are still puttin’ on a clinic. They’re hanging out a bit deeper in that 25–35 FOW (feet of water) range.
The Pro Tip:
To get their attention, you need to be trolling. The magic number for speed is a steady 2.1 to 2.3 mph. Don says the VIP lures for the past two weeks have been:
- Salmo Freediver 12s
- Rapala TD 11s
The Stats
Don’t let a few successful catches fool you—it is still brisk out there.
- Water Temps: Hovering in the mid-to-upper 30s.
- Atmosphere: Cold and windy enough to make you question your life choices until that first rod tips over.
As Don puts it: “Water temps are still hanging around in the mid to upper 30’s.”
The Verdict: The fish are hungry, the water is cold, and the gear is dialed in. If you can handle the breeze, Fort Peck is ready for you.
