Author: Chris Hustad

This is your Lake Sakakawea fishing report for June 23rd,, 2018…See our last report from June 12th. The bite continues to be decent on the East End of Lake Sakakawea, although it can be tough some days.  A week ago, a shallow bite was a guarantee…now the fish are starting to slide.  We tried pitching jigs/minnows in areas that had been productive and nothing, so we were forced to switch gears.  We started trolling Mallard Island in a variety of depths.  It wasn’t until we hit the windblown side that we started putting walleyes in the boat.  There was a handful

If you’re looking for a Lake Sakakawea fishing report, I can tell you, the time is now (and should only get better)…  We put in at Dakota Waters landing near Beulah, ND and ran FAR west.  We fished the Skunk Bay area, and a lot of good walleyes came at 10-15 feet.  Variations of live bait have been working best, with some coming on crankbaits as well. We ventured back east and found fish scattered throughout the mid-section of the lake.  We didn’t find the numbers as out west, but the one’s we did find were big (some throwbacks).  These fish

By now, you’re probably getting sick of me talking about my love for trolling for walleyes.  If you’ve read any of my reviews here at Review Your Gear, you’ll know that I have quite a fancy for fishing walleyes.  And I’ve become used to trolling…A LOT.  Is it my favorite way to fish???  To be honest, no.  The thump on a jig is pretty darn tough to beat.  But a close second is the sound of a trolling reel clicker going off…especially when it’s the sound a big fish makes that I can’t even describe.  I do most of my trolling

As a father of 3, I find it at times challenging in this day and age to get my kids out fishing.  In the era of technology, and my kids are loving it, it also takes away from the time kid’s spend outdoors.  Personally, I feel there is a place for it, but at the end of the day there has to be a balance.  Same goes for taking my kids fishing, they don’t have to go if they don’t want to….but if they do, no way I’m leaving them at home. Here are a few tips I have for getting

This is a scenario that either has happened to you, or WILL happen to you…only question is, when will it happen?  And what I’m talking about is a complete accident, obviously not something we try to do.  A hook lodged in skin….one of my biggest fears as a fisherman. But staying calm and using proper fishing hook removal techniques, we got it done in no time.  So here’s how it happened… We were having a decent day out trolling crankbaits while walleye fishing on Lake Oahe on the North Dakota side.  We were in good spirits, it was 80 degrees out

WHERE: Lake Oahe, (North Dakota side) WHEN: May 12-13th WHAT: Trolling Walleyes with Crankbaits WATER TEMP: 54 Degrees Well it’s that time of year on one of my favorite lakes here in North Dakota, Lake Oahe.  The spawn has concluded across most of the lake and river, with only a few fish still holding eggs up in the river north of Bismarck.  Other then that…it’s post spawn walleye time!  We were trolling #5 Flicker Minnows in 8 to 9 feet of water.  We were running them around 55 feet back and the action was pretty consistent when we found them.  This section of the lake

We hit the river again for an all day grind south of Bismarck.  We put in at Hazelton, and fished far north and south.  The spawn is definitely on in town.  During the Big Muddy Walleye Tournament, 3 weights came in over 37 pounds (6 fish).  All caught shallow, of course.  We hit the tail end down south as fishing was actually a bit tougher.  Beaver Bay is already over 60 degrees, and the Game and Fish nets are gone.  In other words, the spawn is long over.  Visibility is around 1 foot of water, but the fish are surprisingly missing

About once a semester during the school year, I yank my kids out of school and take them fishing.  I have no remorse for a day off from school, father/son/daughter time is just as important.  But forget the political side of things, let’s talk about our walleye fishing report!  Throughout the upper river systems in the Midwest, such as the Missouri River that we fish; the spawn is on.  With 70 to 80 degree temperatures forecasted for the next couple weeks, I expect it to go fast this year. In the mornings, the fishing for us has been a tad slower

There are no amount of words or haiku’s that can truly describe the feeling of hitting your favorite body of water; from the ocean to a back mountain stream.  You don’t need a lot of money to enjoy the great outdoors and fishing is one of those hobbies that can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it.  When reviewing each fishing backpack, we found it hard to sift through hundreds and hundreds of bags.  So many options, so many choices, but at the same time…so many are very similar.  When it’s time to get down and do a