With the air temps in the 60s and the water temps around 37 degrees, how could a guy do anything else other than hit the river for some mid-March walleye fishing? When fellow IDO member Mike Means called me and invited me along for a weekend trip to Francis Case it didn’t take me long to grab my jig box and a couple of St. Croix rods and head on up to South Dakota to work on my tan and jig up some walleye for the pan! We were specifically looking for eaters on this trip. There wasn’t any hog hunting going on. Mike said he needed enough walleye to get through the Lenten season and the river was very kind to us in that regard. Joining us for the weekend were two other IDO members, Rick Buxcel and Dean Schoemaker. A BIG thank you goes out to these three for making this a very enjoyable weekend!
Most anglers know that the versitle jig is the most common tackle used for cold water walleye, and this weekend was no different. We tried three different jigging techniques to see what the walleye preferred most and we found that just about any presentation produced fish. The standby jig-n-minnow worked well for us, producing about half of the 100 or so fish that came to the boat. We mainly used BfishN Tackle H2O jigs and Lindy Max Gap jigs, both in the 1/8th ounce and 1/4 ounce sizes.
We utilized vertical jigging with minnows, dragging jigs tipped with minnows, and pitching jigs tipped with BfishN Tackle Ringworms and Paddle Tails. All jigging techniques caught fish well, and changing our presentation made it a more interesting experiment if nothing else. I also enjoyed the opportunity to try out my new St. Croix Legend Tournament rod I got from Dean at Everts Resort. Dean said I’d enjoy fishing with this rod and he was right!
As for water depth, we really found walleye spread out in a number of places with depths varying a bit. And we saw other anglers boating walleye in water as deep as 30 feet. But, for the most part, we stuck to 10 to 20 feet of water and found that to be very productive. There didn’t seem to be any significant structure in many of the spots we fished. I suspect much of the preferred locations had to do with bottom content and the balls of bait fish we kept seeing on the Lowrance! So, if you’ve got spring fever and you need a little time on the open water, find the nearest river, grab your rod and some jigs and get to fishing!
WOW !!!
that looks like FUN !!!!
FISH ON !!!
You look ruggedly handsome in that ol IDA cap Wade!
Nice Pics!!
Good to see you finally having a chance to fish that new rod!
It is special fishing in South Dakota. Catching walleye and then you look around and the scenery just takes your breath away! What part of Case were you fishing? I’m guessing Chamberlain but Platte is a possibility. We are headed to the area this weekend but the rods are staying home—family stuff ya know. SO Wade, once I get moved out to Lake Oahe in a year or so there might be a chance to tempt you up for some fishing
Wade,
Always good to see you come with us. For some reason we always seem to have some pretty fun/good days together on the river system.
Dean, I have been fishing a few of your jigs over here on the river system (I borrowed (stole
) them from Rick) and they are definately one of my first choices. 
Again Wade, glad to see you guys out with us.
Mike
Great report and pics guys.
From Jeff
I am sure Rick doesnt mind!
Oh boy, can’t wait to get up there, looks like you were close to the Pickstown dam? Time to get the camper opened up, I think they turn the water on next week!
I am sure Rick doesnt mind!
What he doesn’t know, won’t hurt him.
Good work guys. Sounds like you all had a blast. I’m looking forward to doing a little pitching on the river myself.
Thanks guys! I hope to see a few of you on Pool 4 in a couple of weeks!
Good stuff, Wade. Way to get em!
Glad you had fun Wade. I think you hit the best days of the year, both in weather and fish.
You just cant beat being in a boat in March, (or Feb, for that matter) and catching fish!
There are few places that close, that are that scenic.
Cant wait to get back.
PS, You left a few behind:
I love my Humminbird, Wade. Thanks
looks like july not march! the open water bug is killing me! nice report
Great pics, reddog! It sure is pretty up there. And you’re right, being on the water in March is pretty tough to beat.
Glad you like your Humminbird too!
Mike, We happen to hit some incredible weather for March. The timing couldn’t have been better. The fish were snapping and the sun was shinning. I would have though it was July if it wasn’t for the floating ice!
Of course, its not always that nice out there.
But when it is, it can be breathtaking.