Dakota Recreation Report: May 9, 2022

Outdoor notes:

*May 15: Spring turkey season and light goose conservation order close.

Tournaments:

*May 21: Devils Lake, Creel Bay.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, May 3: 1,448.9 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.72 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,828.05 MSL; 14,400 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: East-central area lakes slow but look for more activity with warmer weather. Coulees are flowing heavy into area rivers and unfishable. Anglers are advised to stay off muddy roads accessing lakes. Some activity along Channel A on Devils Lake with fair at best success. East end of Lake Sakakawea spotty for small walleye. Try jigs and minnows. Look for water to move into Lake Audubon soon with some early season walleye activity.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Lots of water coming in from northern coulees and channels.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: High inflows into northern coulees and creeks limiting angling activity.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Some activity along the shorelines and bridges but no reports on success.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Lots of water flowing into Devils Lake after late April rains. Try the upper channels and bridges for walleye and pike pitching plastics.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Some anglers going to Devils Lake for walleye and pike activity along the bridges. Area lakes quiet

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: No reports from area lakes.

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

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne:

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Limited activity with lake at full pool and on the rise to delay putting in several docks until elevation stabilizes.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Warmer weather bringing more angling activity on Lake Sakakawea with scattered success off the east end embankment along U.S. Highway 83, mouth of Steinke Bay, Garrison Bay, and west to Douglas Bay. Look for a mix of walleye with occasional salmon. Try jigs and minnows or crankbaits. Missouri River remains slow with limited reports from Lake Audubon.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Anglers looking for a pre-span walleye bite yet on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try jigs and minnows. Look for moving water coming into Lake Audubon as that rises to its normal summer elevation.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow with occasional walleye and catfish from both boat and shore. Wing walls producing some walleye and a few catfish in early morning dark hours. Try jigs and minnows. Lake Sakakawea producing some pike, mostly small males, on the east end. Try casting crankbaits or bobber and smelt off the bottom. Try Steinke Bay or 7 Sisters pitching jigs and minnows in the shallows for walleye but still generally slow.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No new reports.

N.D. rivers:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 8.23 feet; streamflow, 1,200 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 14.76 feet; streamflow, 9,750 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 45.32 feet; streamflow, 58,500 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 5.71 feet; streamflow, 1,040 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 & Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

*Report All Poachers: (701) 328-9921.