Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes:

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

*Remember to have adequate numbers of lifejackets and proper lighting on boats.

*Anglers need to plan to keep any fish caught in water deeper than 25 feet because they typically can’t survive coming up from that deep.

*Aug. 15: Tundra swan applications due.

*Aug. 15: Early Canada goose season opens in all three zones.

Tournaments:

*Aug. 17: Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort.

*Aug. 18: Devils Lake, Creel Bay; Lake Sakakawea, Sakakawea State Park.

*Aug. 24 and 25: Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Aug. 7: 1,449.29 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.24 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,849.86 MSL; 48,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No Devils Lake or east-central area lake reports. Red River success slow with dropping river levels. Larger catfish now harder to find. Keep moving and find areas with current such as smaller shallow holes. Try goldeye, frogs, or sucker minnows and be sure to mix them up. No new reports but look for slower walleye success on Lake Sakakawea.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: West end of Devils Lake starting to produce a few larger walleye. Try trolling spinners and nightcrawlers in 30 to 50 feet. Good numbers of smaller fish. Continued white bass and pike activity.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Good numbers of small walleye with some eaters showing up. Anglers working hard for larger 24- to 30-inch fish.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Improving walleye success with lots of small ones and occasional large fish. Work a variety of depths from shallow to quite deep along the Minnewaukan Flats.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Work deep in 25 feet or more for walleye. Try trolling spinners with heavy bottom bouncers and nightcrawlers. Work around the bridges. Continued good white bass success.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Area lakes remain weedy with light activity.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: A few anglers heading out to Jamestown Reservoir with fair crappie success. Not many reports from smaller area lakes.

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

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Overall slower success.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Continued bass success with an occasional walleye mixed in.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Walleye success remains on the tough side. Those willing to go deep, however, are finding fair walleye success as deep as 50 feet. Plan to keep those fish, however. Try crankbaits, jigging Raps or heavy bottom bouncers with slow death slows and nightcrawlers. Move around and locate fish in deep water. No new Lake Audubon or Missouri River reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Fewer angler numbers. Walleye moving deeper. The key is to work deep using slow death hooks and heavy bottom bouncers with leeches or nightcrawlers. Try Pepsi Point, Deepwater Bay, or along the south side.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Inconsistent walleye success down river on the Missouri River with slow activity in the channel. Try from the cable crossing south with Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers. Slow success from shore. Best walleye success on Lake Sakakawea remains deep on the east end around 50 feet. Work main lake points out of bays using Lindy rigs with nightcrawlers from Douglas Bay to the west. Try 100 feet over deeper water for salmon with flashers and squids or herring for salmon. Bite remains inconsistent yet but anglers are finding some success. Try white on white, blue on blue, etc. Most activity remains north of Government Bay but that could quickly change.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Improving success on Hinsz, Clear, Goose and Antelope lakes with continued success on other area lakes, as well.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Continued crappie activity but angler activity is lighter.

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

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

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

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

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 1.63 feet; streamflow, 7.48 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 1.88 feet.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 16.41 feet.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.91 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.