In our first article, Tailrace Walleye Tactics, we discussed one of the most interesting fishing opportunities the Missouri River reservoirs have to offer. The four tailrace areas in South Dakota can all be effectively fished by both boat and shore anglers who will often find a strong bite through most of the year. Today, we break down the best ways to put fish in the boat when fishing these areas!
Setting Up for Success
Anglers fishing out of the boat early and late in the season can find the best success working heavy jigs and minnows when the current is minimal. However, the best bite in these areas often takes place when the water is flowing. When the powerhouse is cranking, try deploying a weighted set up and Original Floating Rapala. There are two common options you can use for a set up.
For the first set up, tie a 1 ½ ounce bottom bouncer to your main line as you normally would. Instead of a snell to a hook, simply tie about a 5 or 6 foot 10-12 pound monofilament leader. From there, tie on your bait of choice.
The second option is slightly different, but the same concept. For this option, tie on a 3-way barrel swivel to your main line. On one side, use lighter 4-6 pound monofilament attached to a 2-4 ounce egg sinker depending on current. On the other side, use a heavier 10-12 pound monofilament leader to your bait of choice. The concept here is that if your weight gets snagged it will break off and your lure will return safely, saving you money at the tackle shop.
Staying in the Strike Zone
Regardless what set-up you deploy, the concept is simple. The weight gets your bait down to the bottom, while your bait floats above the bottom and up out of the danger, while staying in the strike zone. The key to this presentation is having a shallow running balsa bait. This is because you want a bait that is naturally buoyant and won’t dive down into the bottom. Combining these aspects is why I favor a bait like the Original Floating Rapala.
As with any other presentation, experiment with size and color on any given outing. However, there are a few key patterns you can key in on before you hit the water. In many cases, the water in the tailraces is exceptionally clear. This means that your smaller baits and natural colors will often be the best choice before switching to larger baits and brighter colors in the evening and into the dark hours.
I have a few core baits I begin with. For sizes, my top two preferences are a #9 or a #11. My favorite colors include: Purpledescent, Hot Steel, Blue, Bleeding Pearl and Clown. When conditions are bright, I favor the Purpledescent, Blue and Bleeding Pearl before switching to Hot Steel and Clown as the skies darken.
Most days, the finer details of your presentation tend to not matter as much as they may in other situations. The key is keeping your bait in the strike zone, walleyes here are looking for vulnerable meals. Many times, bait that is dazed, injured or even dead being flushed through the turbines is what they will feed on. Depending on where you are fishing, this could be smelt, herring or gizzard shad. The flash and wobble of your bait exactly replicates what these fish are looking for.
Once you’re fully rigged up, the key is to let the current do the work for you. The best way to deploy these baits is to run as close to the powerhouse as legally possible. There will be a large red sign on each side of the shoreline that says “No Boats Beyond This Point”, to stay both safe and legal make sure you are not running past these signs.
Once you’ve come to this area, it is time to deploy. Simply kick the boat into neutral and drop your baits directly over the side of the boat. The current will push the boat faster than your baits and you’ll see your lines angle away from the boat as the drift continues. You may see your speeds going anywhere from 3 to 4 mph, but this is not a problem. Your baits will be presenting perfectly for what the fish are looking for.
Be wary of eddies or other areas that the current may be moving differently. In many situations, these will mean your baits are going a different direction than the boat or even other angler’s lines in the boat. However, these areas are often what hold the biting fish as they look to ambush prey and the directional change of your bait could be what triggers a strike.
Staying Safe
There are several safety aspects anglers need to consider when they put the boat in for this type of bite. Most importantly, you need to make sure you are meeting all legal requirements. This means not passing into any “No Boats” areas and making sure your boat is appropriately lit if you will be fishing past sunset into the dark. The power of the current can be easily underestimated and the cover of darkness makes extra precautions that much more critical.
Additionally, appropriate life jackets for anglers in the boat is important. Even the strongest swimmers have no match for the powerful currents that can occur in a tailrace. Currents and wakes from other boats can make the water below these areas rough, making the possibility of an angler being thrown from a boat that much greater.
Proper lighting is key not only for staying safe, but effectively fishing as well. Equip all anglers with a personal headlamp for when they are reeling a fish in, tying knots, checking lines or anything else. Placing lanterns in your boat can also add just enough light to your boat to help find things and be aware of what is going on around you. Powerful flashlights or spotlights are also beneficial to serve as headlights on the way in, watching for dangers and maintaining awareness of where the shorelines and other major landmarks are for navigating your way back to the launch.
While your engine is an important part of your presentation, ensuring your engine is running at all times in neutral means it will be there and ready for you should you need to quickly change your position because of another boat or where the current has placed you. Things can change quickly in the fast water and being able to power yourself out of a potentially dangerous position is critical.
When everything comes together, the results can be spectacular! While fishing out of the boat allows you to cover a wide variety of areas and maintain versatility, the shore fishing opportunities are nothing to scoff at either. In our third and final article, we discuss the best way to put fish on the bank when fishing tailraces. Find out how in Tailrace Walleye Tactics III: Shorefishing Strategies.
Read Next Article: Tailrace Walleye Tactics III: Shoreline Strategies
