Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes:

*East Totten boat ramp, Lake Audubon, closed approximately a week for roadwork.

*Fireworks prohibited on all N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Wildlife Management Areas and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Nat’l. Wildlife Refuges.

Tournaments:

*July 7: Devils Lake.

*July 14: Devils Lake

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, June 26: 1,449.72 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.67 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,852.17 MSL; 60,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake good for walleye using spinners and nightcrawlers. Lots of small fish so sort through for the keepers. Be patient and larger fish will wander through. Post-spawn catfish active on the Red River. Target mid-river holes and current seams. Be patient because water levels are leveling off and post-spawn fish are slower working. Try cut bait goldeye. Large catfish aren’t as active now so use smaller bait to try drawing in light-biting eater-sized catfish. No new reports but look for continued fair walleye success throughout much of Lake Sakakawea.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Good walleye activity around the bridges using leeches off the bottom. Also try 15 feet and deeper trolling spinners. Bass and pike success remains good.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Fair to good walleye. Work deeper in 15 to 20 feet with a variety of presentations. Fair white bass success but pike slowed.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: No new reports.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Try pulling spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers in 10 to 15 feet for walleye. Work wind-blown shorelines. Also try slip bobbers and leeches. Continued fair to good bass and pike success.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Continued activity throughout several area lakes with most anglers heading to Devils Lake where there is generally fair to good walleye success.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: No reports.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No new reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Continued good bass success with bluegill mixed in. Try casting spinners from shore along the docks and structure. Improving walleye success. Try working weed lines or deeper across the channel using nightcrawlers or leeches.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Some activity but limited walleye reports. Bass remain good.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fair to good for walleye throughout much of the east end of Lake Sakakawea using a variety of presentations and bait. The key is to work in 8 to 10 feet in shallow, warm water. Move if there aren’t bites in about 20 minutes. Lake Audubon has fewer anglers but those going are still finding fair walleye success.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Continued improving walleye success. Try Pepsi Point, Medicine Stone, or Earthquake in 12 to 14 feet.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River flows heavy and can be dangerous at times, so use extreme caution. However, some walleye success down river using jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers with activity around the car bodies, cable crossing and spillway channel. Beware of floating logs and debris in addition to strong current. Lake Sakakawea generally fair along the north shore with improving success around Alcatraz. Also try 5 Fingers. Try trolling in 8 feet or casting towards the shoreline. Look for better south shore success to continue.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Hit-and-miss success on many area lakes although Clear Lake producing nice walleye numbers in 11 to 14 feet. Try spinners and bottom bounces with leeches.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: No new reports.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.

*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: No reports.

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited reports.

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

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 1.95 feet; streamflow, 16.7 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 2.39 feet.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 17.9 feet.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.82 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.