Dakota Recreation Report- April 15, 2019

Outdoor notes:

*New fishing licenses now due.

*April 22: Earth Day.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, April 9: 1,448.50 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.57 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,844.73 MSL.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake ice conditions deteriorating so use extreme if walking out because conditions can rapidly worsen. No activity on east-central area lakes. No Missouri River System reports.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Limited activity on Devils Lake with deteriorating ice conditions. Not much water coming into northern feeder coulees with limited fishing success.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Stay off deteriorating ice although a few anglers still walking onto some areas of Devils Lake. Look for a nice pre-spawn perch bite with pike in shallow water of less than 10 feet. Look for the coulees to start running soon for a walleye and pike bite.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Ice deteriorating with no walk-on activity recommended as lake transitions to open water shorelines.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Not much activity with anglers waiting for ice-out throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Little activity yet with most anglers waiting for open water. Winter fish kill losses could impact some area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Slow with ice going out on area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: No activity with deteriorating ice conditions and the lake transitioning to open water soon.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Lake almost at normal pool with runoff nearly over. No recent activity with deteriorating ice conditions.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Garrison: Some anglers still venturing onto the east end of Lake Audubon with spotty walleye success. Good numbers of pike anglers fishing from shore along the open waters of Lake Sakakawea’s back bays. Missouri River tailrace slowed but improving walleye success around the Bismarck-Mandan area.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Lots of open water along Lake Sakakawea shorelines with good pike success. Try smelt or herring with water possibly a little chilly for casting crankbaits yet. Missouri River producing a mix of ling, walleye, and pike but overall success slowed with lower releases. Try jigs and minnows or plastics. Try the wing walls as well or casting crankbaits from shore.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No activity with ice totally unsafe for access and no open water activity yet.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Not much activity.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Little activity.

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

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

N.D. rivers:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 8.48 feet; streamflow, 1,310 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 10.10 feet.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 42.59 feet.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 5.66 feet.

Migration:

*Good numbers of light geese starting to move through Lonetree WMA, Devils Lake, and Bottineau areas earlier in the week. Few are stopping to rest and are generally pushing north.

Numbers to know:

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

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