Dakota Recreation Report: August 23, 2021

Outdoor notes:

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

*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.

*Concurrent deer licenses now available in some units. Go to the N.D. Game and Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov) for details.

*East Totten Recreation Area boat ramp is the only available ramp on Lake Audubon during a lake draw-down to allow for facility maintenance work along the U.S. Highway 83 embankment.

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

*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. 26: Ducks Unlimited banquet, Grand Forks Alerus Center, 5:30 p.m.

*Sept. 1: Dove season opens.

*Sept. 3: Deer archery season opens along with moose, elk, and pronghorn archery for lottery license holders.

*Sept. 3: Zones 1 and 2 mountain lion seasons open.

Tournaments:

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

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Aug. 17: 1,447.41 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,447.22 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,833.31 MSL; 21,200 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No new reports.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued fair walleye success, although somewhat slower with warm weather and weedy conditions. Try Creel Bay and move around throughout the main lake in deeper water around 25 to 30 feet. Fish seem to be moving. Also try jigging along the highways.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued fair walleye success using spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers. Locate structure in deeper water in 30 to 35 feet on hot, calm days. Lake is becoming weedy.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Fair walleye success with spinners and bottom bouncers in 15 to 18 feet. Work along any of the highways or try the bridges in the evening. Lots of smaller walleye.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: A little activity on some area lakes, but limited reports on success.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Activity slowed throughout area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Scattered walleye success with some nice perch showing up at times. Work the weed lines. Move around to locate a variety of panfish, but generally when anglers can find them, they’re seeing good numbers. Look for some nice-sized pike.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Not many anglers out, but look for some panfish success yet.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Garrison: Fair walleye success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea, but work deep water in 30 to 40 feet and move around. Try crankbaits in deeper water or spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers. Smaller fish are in the shallower water.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Continued fair to good for walleye with fish moving to deeper water. Try around 25 feet with some anglers switching to minnows. Move around.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow during the day, although some small walleye caught down river. Fair to good catfish success from both boat and shore, along with the wing walls and below the spillway with several nice-sized ones showing up. Some nice walleye in the chutes using 3-way swivels at night with a mix of trout, walleye, and salmon showing up. Try the rocks from shore at night for walleye. Lake Sakakawea fair for walleye from boats on the east end in 25 to 35 feet and deeper, with larger fish in deeper water. Shallower fish seem less active. Try Steinke or Douglas bays and 3 bays west of Pick City. East end of Lake Sakakawea continues producing spotty salmon success with fish moving deeper after last week’s wind. Try 85 to 105 feet over deeper water with white or blue flashers on white or pink squids. Also try herring. Most activity is along Government Bay. Look for fish to move back into a little shallower water, though. Also try an afternoon bite as well as morning.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Fewer anglers on area lakes with limited reports.

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.