Dakota Recreation Report: July 4, 2022

Outdoor notes:

*Fireworks prohibited on U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Nat’l. Wildlife Refuges and N.D. Game & Fish Wildlife Mgmt. Areas (WMA).

Tournaments:

*July 9: Devils Lake, Creel Bay.

*July 9 & 10: Devils Lake.

*July 15 & 16: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

*July 16: Devils Lake.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, June 28: 1,450.83 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,450.81 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,835.24 MSL; 20,900 cubic feet per second (CFS) Garrison Dam average daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. game wardens: No reports from Devils Lake or east-central area lakes. Best walleye success on Lake Sakakawea remains around the midsection, including the Van Hook Arm. Missouri River tailrace and spillway producing numbers of small walleye but sort through for some keepers.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Improving walleye activity on East Bay with generally fair to good success throughout much of main Devils Lake and northern feeder chain of lakes. Try a mix of presentations.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued good for walleye using slip bobbers in shallow water. Also try switching to bottom bouncers or vertical jigging in deeper water. Generally good throughout much of the lake with a lot of activity on the west side.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Continued activity throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir producing a mix of walleye, perch, and crappie with continued success throughout several area lakes. Try a mix of nightcrawlers or leeches, if available.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Lots of angling activity with fair walleye success. Try leeches or nightcrawlers. Lake is at normal summer elevations.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Steady perch success with some walleye mixed in.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Continued improving walleye success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea but still inconsistent. Try Douglas or Deepwater bays as well as around Indian Hills. Look for catfish success in the back bays. Work gravel areas for smallmouth bass. Some activity on Lake Audubon, as well.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Lake Sakakawea continues producing walleye on the east end. Work shallow in 10 to 15 feet using plain snells with bottom bouncers and minnows and nightcrawlers. Work weed edges spinners with nightcrawlers or leeches or slow death hooks with nightcrawlers for walleye on Lake Audubon.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Fair to good for walleye in 10 to 20 feet using spinners with leeches. Try the south side and locate warmer water.

*Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace inconsistent following recent weather fronts. However, lots of small walleye success continues. Try jigs and minnows around the “blowout” area or late night hours in the chutes from boats for walleye. Fair to good for catfish from boats during the day scattered throughout the river. Look for improving trout and salmon later into the summer months. Try the boat ramp, rocks, or campground from shore using nightcrawlers or minnows for walleye and catfish during the day or crankbaits from shore at night for walleye. East end of Lake Sakakawea remains inconsistent. Try jigs in 8 to 10 feet around Douglas or Steinke bays and 7 Sisters with best success along the north shore. Also try spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers. Tough bite from the shore along the south side.

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

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Fair to good for a mix of perch, crappie, and walleye.

N.D. rivers:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 6.97 feet; streamflow, 550 CFS.

*Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Creek elevation, 6.99 feet; streamflow, 242 CFS.

*Red River, Thompson: River stage, 30.4 feet; streamflow, 9,010 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 6.01 feet; streamflow, 1,280 CFS.