Dakota Recreation Report - May 13, 2019

Patricia Stockdill | May 13, 2019

Outdoor notes:

*Deer gun applications now available at N.D. Game and Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov).

*Area ponds stocked with catchable catfish or trout: Valley City Hatchery, New Rockford, Little Britches ponds and Turtle River, Turtle River State Park.

*Area lakes with significant winter fish kill: Juanita, Carlson-Tandy, Battle, Etta, Alkaline, Remmick, Gaier, and Sunday lakes and Harvey Dam.

*Area lakes with total winter fish kill: Leno and Rafferty lakes.

*May 18: N.D. guides and outfitters test, N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Bismarck office.

*May 19: Turkey season closes.

Tournaments:

*May 18: Devils Lake, Creel Bay.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, May 7: 1,449.11 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.93 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,846.48 MSL; 21,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No east-central, Devils Lake, or Missouri River System reports.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Fair to good success continues along the bridges with better walleye activity in the afternoon when water temperatures warm. Try leeches.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: OK pike success but water temperatures remain cool and are limiting walleye activity. Try to locate pockets of warm water.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Fair to good for walleye from boats. Try leeches and slip bobbers. Continued success from shore along the bridges and areas with moving water.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Area lakes generally quiet yet with cool water and air temperatures slowing angler numbers and fish activity.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Angler numbers remain light but a few more people are out, especially on smaller area lake. Look for some pike success.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Cool weather continues limiting activity throughout area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Activity remains light.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: A few boats on the water but limited activity and reports on success on the south end of the lake. A little more activity on the north end of the lake but reports also light. Water temperatures are still cool.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Garrison: Walleye spawn underway on the east end of Lake Sakakawea so bite is slow other than occasional, incidental fish. Continued pike success in shallow water using faster, moving presentation. Not many Missouri River reports with continued lower-than-normal releases. Lake Audubon somewhat slow for walleye but look for improving success as spawn winds down

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Try morning or evening hours from boats for walleye in the Missouri River downstream of the tailrace. Try crankbaits from shore for walleye. River also producing some catfish. East end of Lake Sakakawea slow for walleye but some pike success continues from shore.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Limited activity and reports but typically look for early season success from area lakes.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Partial winter kill with limited reports.

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

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

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Weather limiting activity.

N.D. rivers:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 4.40 feet; streamflow, 134 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 3.68 feet; streamflow, 487 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks, River stage, 29.29 feet; streamflow, 22,200 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.62 feet; streamflow, 170 CFS.

Numbers to know:

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