Dakota Recreation Report- May 20, 2019

Outdoor notes:

*Deer gun applications now available at N.D. Game and Fish 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.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, May 14: 1,449.09 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.96 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,846.45 MSL; 27,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from Devils Lake with other area lakes generally quiet. Upper end of Lake Sakakawea continues producing walleye with slow success on the east end.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Water temperatures remain somewhat cool yet to limit walleye activity and success. Coulees slowed with runoff generally over.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Good pike success pitching plastics. Look for improving walleye activity with warming water temperatures.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Lots of walleye and pike activity off Highway 19 and area bridges.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Look for improving walleye activity as water temperatures gradually start to warm. Try 6-Mile Bay or Mauvais Coulee in shallow, warm water. Some walleye success continues along the bridges.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Some activity on area lakes but limited reports yet.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Many area lakes still generally quiet.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Increasing activity along the James River, including south around Ypsilanti. Try minnows.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Increasing angler numbers north and south of the crossing but walleye success remains slow.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Little walleye activity yet but anglers finding some nice-sized smallmouth bass. Try pitching small jigs.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Garrison: East end of Lake Sakakawea still quiet for walleye as the spawn wraps up. Spotty walleye success on the east end of Lake Audubon using jigs and minnows. Missouri River tailrace fair for walleye from boats.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Water temperatures remain cool with generally slow walleye success. Work farther west, north of the New Town bridge. Bait now available at the bait shop.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Inconsistent walleye bite down river on the Missouri River. Try early morning, pre-dawn hours from shore for walleye. East end of Lake Sakakawea remains quiet with cool water temperatures yet and a post-spawn walleye lull.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Scattered success from a few area lakes.

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Little activity.

N.D. rivers:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 3.6 feet; streamflow, 69.4 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 3.2 ft; streamflow, 307 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks, River stage, 22.34 ft; streamflow, 12,200 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.39 ft; streamflow, 122 CFS.

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.