Photo by Ron Sinfelt.

For walleye fishing enthusiasts on the northern prairies, July is a month of transition -- a pause between the famed June bite and the lazy dog days of August. It's no surprise that when the mercury inches closer to the century mark, the walleye bite on many of our small lakes goes flat.

The combination of the pounding heat of summer and a faltering walleye bite is an annual event on our small impoundments, and although unwelcome, it's expected. When the summer swelter puts the skids on active post-spawn walleyes and jump-starts enough aquatic vegetation to choke many fisheries that lack deep-water refuge, it's not time to call it quits -- it's time to switch gears.

In the Dakotas, our biggest lakes and reservoirs have yet to realize the full effects of summer, and because of the progressive nature of walleye activity on some systems, the bite actually gets better this month on those bigger waters. July is an easy month when it comes to predicting the whereabouts of the best walleye bite in the region, and it's time to look to the big waters to keep those livewells running. Here's a closer look at the July walleye picture, and at the action that each system has to offer.

NORTH DAKOTA
Last month, anglers in North Dakota didn't have far to drive to find active walleyes. A ton of nice fish hit the net early, but as the month drew to an end, so too did the June frenzy, leaving anglers looking for other options in order to fill their stringers.

Devils Lake and Lake Sakakawea are two of the best year-round walleye fisheries on the planet; many states in the Midwest would love to have a pair of bookends of their caliber. But as good as the fishing has been, this is the time of year that sees the two giants really earn their reps. Just take a look at the list of "catch-and-release" and "whopper" walleyes entered with the state game and fish department. In the month of June, at least a dozen fisheries contributed big walleyes to the list. By the time July comes into play, however, Sakakawea and Devils Lake stand virtually alone, yielding more than 95 percent of the walleyes entered.

Although Devils Lake is right on its heels, Lake Sakakawea remains the state's No. 1 fishing destination, accounting for more hours of fishing time logged and more walleyes produced than any other lake in the state. July is traditionally the best month on the big reservoir, and although low water levels have taken their toll, Sakakawea is still going to provide great walleye fishing, as the combination of less water and reduced forage has put the walleyes in the system on the prowl.

"There have been a lot of nice walleyes taken already, but the bite will actually get better from here," offered Tim Miller, who guides and operates in the Van Hook arm area of the lake. "July is just a great month to be on the lake. We are still at a place in water temperature where the fish are very active, and the forage is still relating to shallow water. By month's end, some of our fish will head east and retreat to the main lake if the temperature gets too warm, but for the most part, stable weather patterns and clouds of active walleyes will keep us busy here the next several weeks."