Dakota Recreation Report: Aug. 9, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*N.D. Dept. of Environmental Quality blue-green algae reports: Advisories – Alkali, Antelope, Buffalo, Buffalo Lodge, Coal Mine, Frettim, and Spiritwood lakes, South Hoffer, and Jamestown and Pipestem reservoirs.

*Use caution on boat ramps with slippery conditions due to vegetation, etc.

*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.

*Camping reservations required at N.D. State Parks and are available online at the website, (parkrec.nd.gov). Weekdays are excellent opportunities to enjoy the parks.

*Aug. 11: Pronghorn applications due. Go to the N.D. Game and Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov) for information and applications.

*Aug. 11: Swan applications due. Go to the N.D. Game and Fish Dept. website.

*Aug. 15: Early Canada goose season opens.

*Aug. 19: Friends of the NRA banquet, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, 5:30 p.m.

*Aug. 21: Fall crow season opens.

Tournaments:

*Aug. 14: Devils Lake, Lakewood.

*Aug. 20: Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Aug. 3: 1,447.42 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,447.41 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,834.63 MSL; 22,200 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake remains fair for walleye, but spotty at times. Coe Lake fair, but spotty for walleye, with many lakes becoming weedy. Continued walleye success along Van Hook Arm on Lake Sakakawea, with mixed salmon success on the east end of the lake.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Main lake fish on Devils Lake are running on the smaller size, but overall success remains fair to good. Try north end of 6-Mile, main lake by the towers, Bud Bay, or Money Point around 20 feet. Also try Pelican Lake along Monkey Ridge.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued fair walleye success but the heat, smoke, and generally flatter water than normal is making it a little tougher and anglers are working harder for their catches. Try working deeper. Lake is also becoming weedier.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continue working bottom bouncers with spinners and nightcrawlers in 20 feet along any of the highways for fair to good walleye success. Also try slip bobbers. The bridges remain fair to good in the evening.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Not much activity on area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Leeches out of stock with anglers switching to artificial ones. Try Hehn-Schaeffer, Heinrich-Martin, or Jamestown Reservoir for walleye with numbers of eater-sized fish. Work deeper for larger ones. Some bass activity on Clausen Springs.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Scattered walleye success with anglers moving around more to locate fish. Try the weeds in 5 to 10 feet over islands in the channel with slip bobbers. Continued panfish success.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Heat and smoke limiting activity, but those anglers on the water continue finding fair to good success for a mix of species.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fair to good walleye success on the east end with better activity in the morning due to hot weather. Lots of small fish, so sort through for any keepers. Continue working points using a variety of presentations with nightcrawlers, working deeper with the hot weather and warming water temperatures. Leech season is over. No reports from Lake Audubon.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Continued fair to good for walleye throughout the general area working 8 to 25 feet with Lindy rigs or spinners and nightcrawlers.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow for any sizeable walleye, but good numbers of small fish from boats during the day. Better success is at night from shore or in the chutes depending on water flows. Look for good numbers of catfish from boat and shore. Try the spillway channel, as well. Lake Sakakawea remains fair for walleye. Work a variety of depths focusing on 18 to 25 feet with Lindy rigs or spinners and nightcrawlers. Also try crankbaits. Work Steinke or Douglas bays or 7 Sisters, as well as around Sakakawea State Park. Nice numbers of nice-sized salmon, including several in the 10-pound range up to 15 pounds. Try Government Bay working to the north in 80 feet over deeper water with flashers and squids or whole herring. A few boats are along the face of the dam.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Continued fair to good success throughout most area lakes, including Goose Lake, although it’s slowing slightly. Look for more weed growth, especially along the shorelines.

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fair smallmouth bass and walleye activity.

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.