Dakota Recreation Report: June 28, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*Fireworks are not allowed on N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Wildlife Mgmt. Areas or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges or Waterfowl Production Areas.

*Check local fire restrictions when camping, etc.

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

Tournaments:

*July 10: Devils Lake.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, June 22: 1,447.95 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,447.99 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,836.66 MSL; 21,800 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake so-so for walleye, with generally fair activity. Best success remains west of Grahams Island. Area lakes remain quiet. East end of Lake Sakakawea remains spotty for walleye.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: East Bay continues producing good walleye success using slip bobbers or spinners with bottom bouncers. Pitch crankbaits in the shallows for bigger fish. Also try 6-Mile Bay or around casino. Good white bass success.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Fair to good for nice-sized walleye. Work deeper along structure in New Mil or 6-Mile bays and Doc Hagen’s.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Better walleye success coming in 15 to 22 feet, with a switch to nightcrawlers or leeches around Grahams Island or Minnewaukan Flats. Also try the bridges at night using slip bobbers in the same depths. Continue working shorelines and rocky areas for white bass. Work the trees or pitch crankbaits for pike yet.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Continued activity on area lakes, including Barnes Lake.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Nice walleye success at Hehn-Shaffer Lake with several more than 18 inches in length. Also try Jamestown Reservoir, Mallard March, or Lake Ashtabula with a variety of live bait with spinners.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Continued fair to good for walleye along the weed lines of the main channel in eight to 12 feet. Try slip bobbers with leeches or bottom bouncers, as well as crankbaits. A mix of white bass, bluegill, pike, and crappie also.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Good bass success with increasing numbers of bluegill and crappie with occasional walleye mixed in. Pike remain slow. Water clarity remains good.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fair to good for walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with a variety of presentations and depths. Work from embankment west beyond Indian Hills. Look for some nice-sized walleye as well as pike. Smallmouth bass activity continues. Lake Audubon remains fair to good for walleye and smallmouth using a variety of presentations, as well.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Improving walleye success using spinners and nightcrawlers with some activity on leeches. Try the south shore in 15 to 22 feet.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River continues producing small walleye, but sort through for the keepers. Try jigs and minnows. Tailrace producing walleye during dark hours. Occasional salmon, but limited trout. Lake Sakakawea spotty. Try jigging in the shallows or pulling Lindy rigs along the Highway 83 embankment, Steinke Bay or Douglas Bay.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Fair to good walleye success on Clear, Stober, and Hurdsfield-Tuffy lakes, but Antelope and Goose lakes have slowed.

N.D. rivers, river stage and streamflow:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 0.87 foot; streamflow, 0.18 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 1.5 feet; streamflow, 46.3 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 15.86 feet; streamflow, 1,380 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.72 feet; streamflow, 146 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.