Dakota Recreation Report: Aug 12, 2019

Patricia Stockdill | Aug 12, 2019

Outdoor notes:

*Remember to follow North Dakota’s ANS regulations, including removing plugs at the boat ramp.

*Aug. 14: Tundra swan applications due.

*Aug. 15: Early Canada goose season opens.

Tournaments:

*Aug. 13: Stump Lake.

*Aug. 16 - 17: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park.

*Aug. 17: Jamestown Reservoir; Devils Lake, Creel Bay; Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort; Lake Sakakawea, Sakakawea, State Park.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Aug. 5: 1,448.68 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.71 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,851.33 MSL; 46,300 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: North Lake Washington has a new boat ramp in place with early success but weekend walleye success slowed greatly. Lake Coe spotty for walleye. Other area lakes generally slow. Look for some activity at Antelope and Clear lakes. Devils Lake spotty for walleye with continued good numbers of small fish. July’s high Red River elevations brought good catfish numbers into the river and they’re feeding aggressively in the middle of the river and along current breaks. Use heavy weight, at least 4 ounces, to keep bait on the bottom and work an area at least 20 minutes. Try frogs but other presentations also producing at times. East end of Lake Sakakawea spotty for walleye. Van Hook Arm and New Town area remains spotty and inconsistent for walleye.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Steady walleye success. Try west around Grahams Island or Howard’s Bay using slip bobbers and bottom bouncers with leeches. Look for continued white bass activity.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued walleye success with some larger fish now showing up. Work deeper. Lots of white bass activity and the possibility of an occasional perch.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Fair to good small walleye success with most activity along the Minnewaukan Flats. Look for improving success along the bridges for both walleye and white bass.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued good for small walleye so move around to locate larger fish. Try spinners and bottom bouncers in 25 feet yet work as shallow as 4 feet. Pike bite slowed.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Activity throughout several area lakes. Try minnows.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir fair to good for a mix of walleye, perch, and crappie. Continued activity throughout most area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Steady success throughout area lakes and Jamestown Reservoir

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Not many new reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Continued fair to good bass and bluegill success with some walleye mixed in.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Garrison: Fair to good walleye success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Work deeper water in the mouth of bays and main lake structure. Try 8 to 12 feet working out to 35 feet with a variety of presentations and bait. Improving salmon success along the east end along the south shore. No Lake Audubon or Missouri River reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Some nice, larger walleye now showing up. Work deep in 20 to 23 feet using spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers or leeches. Move around with no particular location for schooling.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River continues producing walleye during the day from boats using slow death hooks and nightcrawlers or jigs and minnows. Try spillway channel, spillway inlet, or cable crossing. Best success remains before 10 a.m. Some catfish and trout mixed in. Try 3-way swivels in the chutes. Shore bite slowed but try the rocks in the evening casting crankbaits. Not many reports from the wing walls. Lake Sakakawea fair for walleye on the east end but move around and locate active schools. Best success also in the morning. Try 20 to 25 feet along the Riverdale Bluffs but also try Mallard Island, Douglas Bay, 3 bays west of Sakakawea State Park, or Wolf Creek. Salmon bite remains tough. Try 65 to 90 feet or as deep as 100 feet around Deadman’s Bay using a variety of presentations.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No new reports.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Reservoir remains quiet.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Not much activity.

*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Continued nice bass activity.

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued good bass success.

N.D. rivers:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 1.71 feet; streamflow, 11.7 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 1.85 feet; streamflow, 56.8 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks, River stage, 17.54 feet; streamflow, 3,810 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.93 feet; streamflow, 283 CFS.

Numbers to know:

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