Dakota Recreation Report: July 18, 2022

Outdoor notes:

*July 29: Halloween in July, Lake Metigoshe State Park, Bottineau.

Tournaments:

*July 23: Devils Lake, Creel Bay; Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing.

*July 30: Devils Lake, Woodland Resort; Devils Lake, launch from East Bay, 6-Mile Bay, or Henegar Landing.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, July 12: 1,450.74 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,450.71 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,837.69 MSL; 20,800 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No Devils Lake or east-central area lake reports. Better walleye reports coming from Indian Hills and Deepwater Bay on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with improving walleye success around McKenzie Bay.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good walleye success using slip bobbers.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good walleye success. Work deeper along the weed beds using slip bobbers or trolling spinners and bottom bouncers.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Fair to good walleye success in 15 to 17 feet using slip bobbers with some anglers switching to spinners and bottom bouncers. Best bait seems to be leeches. Work flooded timber. Nice white bass activity.

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

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Continued fair to good for a mix of walleye and crappie on Jamestown Reservoir.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Try leeches or nightcrawlers but limited reports from area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Anglers continue finding a nice mix of species throughout the lake.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore Resort, Valley City: Steady for a mix of perch, walleye, and bass with occasional bluegill now showing up.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: East end of Lake Sakakawea producing walleye in shallow water. Try a variety of presentations.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Good walleye success using a variety of presentations. Try 8 to 15 feet, locating warm water.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Nice walleye bite on the east end of Lake Sakakawea in 10 to 25 feet, depending on wind. Try 7 Sisters, main lake east end humps, or northeast corner of Mallard Island using slow death hooks and plain hook or bottom bouncers. Douglas Bay producing walleye using bottom bouncers. Decent walleye bite on Lake Audubon working weed edges using spinners tipped with nightcrawlers or leeches. Also try slow death hooks. Also fair to good smallmouth bass activity. Try top-water or swim baits.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace continues producing catfish and walleye from boats and shore. Try spillway channel for walleye and sort through for the keepers. A little success from the wing walls. Try 8 to 18 feet for walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea inside the weed line with jigs and minnows. Also try trolling with slow death rigs or Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers in deeper water around 7 Sisters or Douglas and Steinke bays. Some improving success along the south shore. Try Fisherman’s Point or Scoria Bay from shore for walleye. Look for warm water. Not many anglers working salmon yet but those out are finding some early season success.

*Red River catfish: Continued catfish success despite dropping river levels. Fish moving towards the first drop-offs to the river channel along the slower current edge. Movement could change with stabilizing water levels likely pushing them to fast current. Try a variety of baits. Fargo ramps in good condition but Drayton ramps could benefit from falling river levels to dry out area mud. Shore anglers finding success despite muddy shorelines.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Fair to good crappie and walleye activity.

*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Fair bass success.

N.D. rivers:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 5.13 feet; streamflow, 230 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 3.97 feet; streamflow, 703 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 19.04 feet; streamflow, 7,890 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.24 feet; streamflow, 100 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.