These fish will take a variety of lures and bait with medium to large spoons, preferably plugs and minnows. Trollers should go deeper for these than for northerns, at least 20 to 30 feet deep. In addition, trolling speed should be cut to a slow speed. Unlike northerns, which tend to stay towards the eastern end of the reservoir, walleye spread out all over the reservoir, some even migrating up into the Missouri River. Sauger stay more towards the western end and up into the river.
Walleye move into shallower shoreline areas at night, and many anglers do well then.
Some dedicated local walleye anglers maintain that the Big Dry Arm is the best walleye hole in the West. Still others make the same claim for the area between Hells Creek State Recreation Area and west to Fourchette Bay. In either case, there are plenty of walleye for everyone at Fort Peck. The smallmouth bass population has grown and now attracts a respectable amount of angling pressure. For some anglers, paddlefish provide the only reason to come to Fort Peck.