Dakota Recreation Report: May 04, 2020

Outdoor notes:

*Remember that new boat registrations are now due and stickers need to be placed on the boat.

*North Dakota state park facilities, including vault toilets, restrooms, and visitor centers, remain closed to public use, although hiking trails are open for day use only. Please remember to implement social distancing. Day and annual passes available through park self-registration or online (www.parkrec.nd.gov).

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Wildlife Mgmt. Areas also open to public use, although specific use regulations apply. Go to the Game and Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov) for information.

*Check with other public land and recreation agencies, as well, regarding camping and public use regarding COVID-19 related restrictions.

*Please consider limiting the number of people in a boat to two when open water fishing gets underway to help reduce the COVID-19 potential.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, April 29: 1,449.63 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.38 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,840.34 MSL; 24,200 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No Missouri River System reports. Spotty success from Devils Lake feeder coulees. Try working farther upstream. Sheyenne River also spotty.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Devils Lake generally ice-free with boat access at 6-Mile Bay. Continued shore-fishing activity in the feeder channels and coulees but better success now closer to the main lake. Success slowed somewhat from shore with better success from shore.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Devils Lake feeder channels open and continued OK walleye success. Look for floating ice on the main lake with no boat access yet.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Most of the lake is open but wind moving ice around earlier in the week.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Fair to good for walleye in Devils Lake feeder creeks and channels with lots of activity. Some pike mixed in. The lake is opening with 6-Mile and Creel bays open.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Some shore-fishing activity on area lakes. Docks aren’t in place yet.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop: A few anglers shore-fishing on area lakes but success generally quiet yet.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Open water around the crossing. Look for docks to get in place in soon.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Lake is ice-free and public docks in place. Look for some shore-fishing activity.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: More anglers on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with somewhat slow walleye success yet. Docks are starting to get in place, including the deTrobriand Marina dock at Fort Stevenson State Park. Deepwater Bay slowed for walleye. Look for the spawn to get underway soon. The lake is ice-free. No recent Lake Audubon or Missouri River reports.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River continues producing walleye from boats using jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs. Also try nightcrawlers. Most activity around the mouth of the spillway or coal veins but move around and work different areas. Some trout and pike mixed in. Rocks producing walleye at night from shore. Also try the boat ramp or wing walls. Lots of activity around the campground, as well. Lake Sakakawea spotty for walleye from boats but wind limiting activity. Try farther west towards Beaver Bay. Some lingering pike success from shore.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Look for a nice spring walleye bite throughout area lakes.

Paddle craft river elevation & flows:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 5.91 feet.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 4.15 feet; streamflow, 863 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 26.84 feet; streamflow, 14,800 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 4.08 feet; streamflow, 327 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.

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