Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes:

*Beware of blue-green algae on area lakes and wetlands with weather and water conditions prime for toxin growth. Keep dogs out of any questionable water because it’s deadly and death can occur rapidly.

*July 20 – 28: N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Conservation & Outdoor Skills Park, N.D. State Fairgrounds, Minot, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Tournaments:

*July 20 - 21: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

*July 22: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park.

*July 26 – 27: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park.

*July 28: Devils Lake, Bader Lake, Crystal Springs, Reule Lake, Stink lake.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, July 10: 1,449.78 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.70 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,852.96 MSL; 60,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No real change in success on area lakes, including Clear and Antelope lakes. No other east-central reports. Red River settling into steady post-spawn catfish bite. Fish edges and seams of current, locating holes and set upstream with cut bait goldeye or shrimp. Try post dusk when air temperatures cool below water temperatures. Most active fish hitting in about 15 minutes so move if no bites after about 20 minutes. No new reports but look for continued walleye success throughout much of the east end and midsection of Lake Sakakawea.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Fair to good for walleye in 20 to 35 feet using spinners and leeches or nightcrawlers. Lots of small walleye with some keepers mixed in along the Golden Highway. Fair to good white bass success.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Fair to good walleye success with improving activity around deeper structure such as sunken roads and rock piles. Try slip bobbers or crankbaits.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Walleye activity slowed slightly but best success remains on spinners and nightcrawlers or leeches. Also try vertical jigging. Continued pike success mixed in with walleye. Work along the bridges for white bass.

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

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Not many reports but anglers continue heading to the reservoir and area lakes. Try minnows or leeches for walleye.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Weather fronts and rain slowing activity with the lake at higher elevations. Try evening hours for walleye. Continued bass and perch success from shore. Try pitching spinners or Twister Tails. Anglers catching small muskie but they must be released if less than 48 inches in total length.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Not many new reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Continue working shallow but also try the main lake in deeper water in 25 to 40 feet on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Move around and experiment with depths and locations if the bite isn’t on. Try a variety of presentations and bait. Fewer anglers on Lake Audubon with the Sakakawea bite and high flows reducing Missouri River activity.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Steady walleye bite in 16 to 22 feet. Try spinners or Lindy rigs with a variety of bait around the sand flats, pump house, Red Butte Bay and the Indian Hills area.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River remains decent around the spillway channel. Try spinners with nightcrawlers or crankbaits. Look for some nicer fish around the car bodies, cable crossing, and farther south. Some trout and salmon mixed in with improving catfish bite. Shore-fishing remains slower with high water and fast releases. Better activity around the 4th campground loop. Also try the rocks by the boat dock with a variety of presentations. Lake Sakakawea has inconsistent walleye success with fish moving and not concentrated. Overall fair success with live bait or crankbaits in 18 feet. Also try the weed beds. Areas to try include main lake points in deeper water or Steinke or Douglas bays in shallow weed beds. Little salmon activity and success yet.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Area lakes continue producing walleye and pike using a variety of presentations. Work deeper in 10 to 15 feet for walleye.

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

*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown.

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

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 2.14 feet; streamflow, 23.8 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 2.54 feet.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 17.47 feet.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.88 feet.

strong>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.