Dakota Recreation Report: July 12, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*July 14: Leftover deer gun license application deadline. Go to the N.D. Game and Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov) for details and application.

*N.D. Dept. of Environmental Quality blue-green algae advisories for Jamestown Reservoir and Antelope, Buffalo, and Coal Mine lakes.

*Do not release any fish caught from water 25 feet and deeper, because their swim bladder likely won’t allow them to survive when coming up from deep water.

*Watchable Wildlife photo contest underway with Oct. 1 deadline. Contact N.D. Game and Fish Dept. conservation biologist, Patrick Isakson, [email protected]) for details.

*Check local fire restrictions when camping, etc.

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

Tournaments:

*July 10: Devils Lake, Lakewood.

*July 16 and 17: Devils Lake, Grahams Island; Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, July 6: 1,447.78 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,447.92 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,836.33 MSL; 22,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued good walleye success throughout much of Devils Lake, including East Bay, in 13 to 17 feet, slip bobbers, spinners and bottom bouncers along Roher’s Point, Schaffer’s or Penny bays. White bass remain good.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good for walleye, but work deeper structure with better success starting with trolling techniques. White bass fair.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Try spinners or slip bobbers in 20 to 25 feet along the Golden Highway or casino bridge at night for walleye. Try pitching crankbaits into the weeds or trees for pike. White bass moving deeper, but continue using spinners as well as crankbaits.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Not many reports from area lakes. Devils Lake remains fair to good for walleye using slip bobbers.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Toe, Foot, Key, and Barnes lakes producing walleye, along with Lake Audubon. Try walleye assassins or Husky Jerks.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Try 5 to 10 feet in the bays using Lindy rigs or leeches for walleye, but warm weather slowing success. Continued fair to good success for a variety of panfish. Some scattered pike activity.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Scattered walleye success with lots of recreational activity. Continued panfish activity.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fair for walleye from the east end embankment, west to Douglas Bay on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Work points and drop-offs off points using a variety of presentations in 5 to 25 feet or deeper. Lake Audubon has slowed but try working deeper for walleye.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Steady walleye success using spinners or slow death hooks with leeches or nightcrawlers. Water temperatures vary so move around and locate warmer water and try a variety of depths.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace producing small walleye in the spillway channel inlet using jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers. Sort through for keepers. Some success in the river. Try anchoring and jigging in deeper holes or 3-way swivels in chutes. Continued catfish success. Lake Sakakawea inconsistent for walleye. Move around and don’t stay too long in an area. Try the mouth of Douglas Bay around the islands in 15 to 30 feet using live bait presentations for the most consistent activity.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Good walleye success throughout area lakes, including Clear Lake, Hurdsfield-Tuffy, Goose, and Stober lakes.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No new reports.

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.

N.D. rivers, river stage and streamflow:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 0.55 foot; streamflow, 0 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 1.13 feet; streamflow, 11.9 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 15.52 feet; streamflow, 9593 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.4 feet; streamflow, 86.9 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.