Dakota Recreation Report: June 21, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*Check local fire restrictions when camping, etc.

*Leave baby wildlife alone, especially fawns because their mothers are likely nearby.

Tournaments:

*June 18: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park.

*June 19: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson Sate Park; Devils Lake, 6-Mile Bay.

*June 20: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

*June 26: Red River, Grand Forks.

*June 25 & 26: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, June 15: 1,448.08 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.09 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,838.11 MSL; 21,700 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Good walleye activity. East Bay improving for 16- to 20-inch walleye with increasing activity in 10 to 13 feet, using slip bobbers or spinners with bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers. Also try Pelican Lake or north end of Creel Bay. Use caution on Pelican Lake with low water levels.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good walleye success with larger fish still in shallower water. Better numbers – but smaller – in deeper water. Best success continues with slip bobbers and leeches. Also try pitching crankbaits into shallows. Some small pike yet.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good walleye success, wind conditions permitting. Try slip bobbers in less than 20 feet. Excellent white bass success.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Fair to good walleye success with spinners and bottom bouncers or pitching crankbaits into the shallow water. Start about 10 feet and work out. Try any of the bridges, Minnewaukan Flats, Pelican Lake, Stromme’s Addition, or the north end of Creel Bay. Use caution on Pelican Lake with low water elevations, with Creel Bay producing smaller fish. Good numbers of white bass from shore.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Continued activity throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Continued fair to good success for a mix of crappie and walleye. Lots of activity on small area lakes, but limited reports.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir continues producing a mix of activity, with lots of activity throughout smaller area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Fair to good for walleye. Work shallow in the weeds in 5 to 10 feet using a variety of presentations. Good crappie activity with fish being quite aggressive. Look for some perch and bluegill mixed in.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Fair to good for a mix of walleye and panfish.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fair to good for walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea, including Douglas Bay, as well as Lake Audubon.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace continues producing walleye with good numbers of small fish in the Spillway Channel. Sort through for keepers. Try jigs and minnows. Fair catfish success from shore. Try casting crankbaits from shore at night for walleye. Lake Sakakawea remains spotty for walleye on the east end. Try pitching jigs in the shallows or vertical jigging in 20 feet as well as crankbaits. Water temperature still cool on the east end, but look for improving success with warmer water. Better success is still farther west where there is warmer water.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Continued fair walleye and crappie activity.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued fair success.

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.