Dakota Recreation Report: Nov. 2, 2020

Outdoor notes:

*Nov. 5: Elk Unit E5 closes.

*Nov. 6: Deer gun season opens.

*Nov. 7: Bobcat season opens.

*Nov. 9: Crow and woodcock seasons close.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Oct. 27: 1,448.64 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.64 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,839.09 MSL; 13,200 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Little to no activity on east-central N.D. area lakes. Weather permitting, OK walleye success in the Van Hook Arm of Lake Sakakawea.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: A few anglers still shore-fishing along the bridges or Pelican Lake, weather permitting. Try casting jigs or plastics.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: No activity with the lake open yet. Weather permitting, work the bridges or deep rock piles for walleye.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Look for the possibility of some activity on area lakes with warmer weather.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Weather permitting, a few anglers continue finding walleye using jigging Raps.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Little activity but try working deep for walleye if warming trend continues.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Not much activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Little activity on the Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Quiet.

Hunting:

*Deer: Colder weather bringing on more deer activity.

*Upland: Generally fair pheasant success throughout central, northwest, and north-central N.D.

*Waterfowl: Good bird numbers south of Interstate-94 and around U.S. Highway 281. Generally a major of birds came over N.D. last weekend with some parts of the state still holding birds while other areas saw a big push south and out. Scout larger, open water wetlands and lakes for geese with fair success around east-central, north-central, northwest, and northern tiers of the state. Lots of snow geese east of Lake Audubon with lesser Canada geese moving around eastern Lake Sakakawea. A major push of snow geese and ducks came through the Lonetree WMA region over the weekend as well. Waterfall still hanging around large bodies of open water. A lot of birds moved through northeast N.D. and Devils Lake but moved out, although good numbers of diving ducks moved into the Devils Lake area.

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 & Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

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