Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes:

*Please report active bald eagle nests to the N.D. Game & Fish Dept. to help them track population, (gf.nd.gov).

*June 17: Father’s Day.

Tournaments:

*June 16 and 17: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park.

*June 17: Tolna Dam.

*June 22 – 24: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park.

*June 23: Red River, Grand Forks.

*June 29 and 30: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park.

*June 30: Devils Lake.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, June 12: 1,449.83 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.81 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,849.86 MSL; 44,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Continued white bass success in Channel A and along roads intersecting Devils Lake. Most are in the 12- to 14-inch range. Main lake is still a little spotty for walleye on Devils Lake, but is improving as northern feeder lakes start to slow down. Try shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Dry and Mike’s lakes producing nice walleye with abundant pike. Goose and Hurdsfield lakes producing a few walleye, but somewhat spotty. Anglers working harder to find active catfish on the Red River in pre-spawn areas. Try current and secondary areas with structure for spawning fish. Good numbers of smaller catfish but larger ones don’t seem to be patterning. Move around and keep bait fresh using cut goldeye, worm balls or shrimp. Improving walleye success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Weather fronts creating inconsistent walleye success. Continued fair to good pike success. Fair for white bass using minnows.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Improving walleye activity with better success still in the back bays. Deeper water still remains somewhat clear.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Jigs and leeches remain the best presentation for walleye working warmer water areas. Wind weather fronts limiting activity. Pike remain good. Try along any of the bridges for white bass.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Lots of activity on area lakes with fair success.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Continued activity throughout area lakes. Jamestown Reservoir fair for crappie and walleye.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Lots of activity on area lakes with some crappie and walleye success from Jamestown Reservoir.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Fair walleye success with a few pike mixed in.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Some walleye activity, but overall success remains somewhat slower than normal. Continued good bass activity, though.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fair walleye success working shallow water weed lines on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try pitching jigs with minnows or crankbaits just outside of the weeds. Lake Audubon remains fair to good for walleye. Missouri River releases are high and slowing activity.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River remains fair for walleye using jigs and minnows or crankbaits from boats. Okay success in the chutes even with fast water from higher releases. Some success from the honey hole and shore but somewhat hit-and-miss. Try crankbaits at night from shore along the rocks or campground. Overall fair success, though. Lake Sakakawea inconsistently fair along the north shore. Try tossing jigs up towards the shoreline and bringing it back or deeper in 15 to 20 feet using crankbaits. Some activity from the south shore as well. Pike remain good.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Walleye continuing moving farther east closer to Indian Hills with warming water temperatures. Try about 14 feet.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Generally fair to good walleye success on area lakes, including Goose, Clear, and Stober lakes, with some nice-sized fish coming in. Try leeches in the evening after 8 p.m. for better walleye success. Goose Lake also good for pike.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Look for some pike and crappie activity.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fair for crappie.

*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Not many reports.

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No new reports.

N.D. river canoeing/kayaking elevation & streamflow:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 2.44 feet; streamflow, 37.6 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 2.58 feet.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 18.01 feet.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 4.17 feet.

Numbers to know:

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, main Bismarck office: (701) 328-6300, website: (http://gf.nd.gov).

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Devils Lake office: (701) 662-3617.

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

*Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121 or (701) 328-9921.