Dakota Recreation Report: August 1, 2022

Outdoor notes:

*Blue-green algae updates, N.D. Dept. of Environmental Quality: No advisories or warnings listed but conditions could change daily. Several N.D. lakes under investigation, including Hecker Lake, Sheridan Co .; Hobart Lake, Barnes Co .; and Jamestown Reservoir or have low toxin levels, including Lake No. 5, Kidder Co .; and Reule Lake, Stutsman Co. Go to the agency website, (deq.nd.gov) for more information.

*Aug. 3: Pronghorn applications due.

*Aug. 3: Registration opens for the Sept. 16 - 18 Wild Outdoor Women workshop, Lake Metigoshe State Park, Bottineau. Information is available at the N.D. Parks and Recreation Dept. website, (www.parkrec.nd.gov/events/fall-wild-outdoor-women).

Tournaments:

*Aug. 6: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park; Devils Lake, Minnewaukan.

*Aug. 12 & 13: Red River, Hastings Landing.

*Aug. 13 & 14: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

*Aug. 16: Lake Sakakawea, Sakakawea State Park.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, July 26: 1,450.54 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,450.63 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,838.42 MSL; 20,900 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from area lakes, Devils Lake, or Missouri River. Lake Sakakawea generally fair walleye success from the east end up to the Van Hook Arm.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good for walleye with nice numbers in the 16-inch range. Some perch mixed in. Lots of activity continues on Pelican Lake, East Bay, and main lake areas. Try slip bobbers and nightcrawlers or spinners and bottom bouncers.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good success using slip bobber and nightcrawlers.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good walleye success. Try the Golden Highway or Minnewaukan Flats working a variety of presentations and depths. Lots of anglers on Pelican Lake, as well.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Try slip bobbers and nightcrawlers in 8 to 10 feet along the weed beds or spinners and nightcrawlers working deeper in 20 to 25 feet. Move around and work a variety of depths with overall good success throughout much of the lake.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Limited reports from area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Some activity on area lakes but no new reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Fair for a mix of species with most activity around the Crossing.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Perch and walleye activity slowed with minimal bass and bluegill reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: East end of Lake Sakakawea remains fair to good for walleye working shallow water in the bays or deeper out along main lake points. Try a variety of presentations

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Fair to good for walleye with a nice morning bite. Try nightcrawlers with some success on leeches yet. Overall nice success throughout the area.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Continued fair to good walleye success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea Try slow death hooks and nightcrawlers in 12 to 18 feet working main lake points around Steinke Bay and points to the west. Improving success with crankbaits in 20 to 30 feet. Not many reports from Lake Audubon with anglers focusing on Sakakawea, although smallmouth bass activity remains fair to good.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace producing a mix of walleye and catfish from boats during the day. Limited trout and salmon numbers. Try Lindy rigs or spinners with nightcrawlers in the spillway channel or jigging in the holes. Chutes slow during the day but look for some catfish. Boats producing better success in the chutes at night. Try spillway pond area from shore during the day for a mix of catfish and walleye or the tailrace boat ramp. Best night success for walleye is off the rocks. Lake Sakakawea remains fair to good for walleye with lots of activity along the north shore. Move around to locate active fish working as shallow as 8 feet in the bays or deeper along main lake points. Some salmon success. Work the face of the dam over to Deadman’s Bay.

N.D. rivers:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 3.01 feet; streamflow, 70.1 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 3.84 feet; streamflow, 644 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 17.88 feet; streamflow, 5,110 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.98 feet; streamflow, 225 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.