Missouri River at Bismarck

[i'majigger]

I would like to make a trip out to Bismarck and fish the river this spring. anyone got some info, boat landings? which direction to head? up river down river? I am not looking for any certain spots just what I can expect to find or what to look for. I have never been there before but it sounds like you can catch a few fish if you hit it right.

thanks

[iffwalleyes]

You can have pretty good fishing at either sakakawea north or oahe to the south. Both are great to fish. I am not sure bout fishing right around Bismarck though most people usually just go to one of these two.

[Bisman]

Fishing can be very good in the river around Bismarck (both north and south) if you time it right in the spring (usually from late April until late May). I usually put in at the desert, a ramp just south of Bismarck on highway 1804. Its about 2 miles south of the Uiversity of Mary. Nice ramp with docks and not a lot of gravel to drive to get to it. There are also several ramps in town that you can use. Best advice would be to stop @ Dakota Tackle when you get to town, get a report and directions. My best luck in spring is either plain jig and minnow or pulling cranks shallow (breaks behind bars, etc.) specifically shallow running shad raps and shallow running rip shads. Have fun and be careful, lots of sandbars and stumps that can turn a good trip bad in a hurry. I fish the river a lot and hardly ever bring my boat up to full plane. Take you time getting from spot to spot and you won't have to worry about pulling your front teeth out of your dash when you hit a sandbar.

[KJSnider]

There is usually ample parking at the access just south of the expressway bridge in Bismarck. Just take the road that goes by TGIFridays, and follow it until it ends.

When I was going to college there in the late 90's, we would always launch from there. We had a small 14 foot lund with a 25 horse tiller. We would usually drift down by the banks with a jig and minnow. Most of the time we would go down river, towards the "desert". No electronics in the boat. Usually always brought a few nice walleyes home.

Just remember to take it easy because of the sand bars and such.

KJ

[huntingislife]

Anybody have any reports yet? I am going home wednesday and heard the ramps are in. I think I will have get out in the boat and give it a shot.