Dakota Recreation Report: August 22, 2022

Outdoor notes:

*First-come, first-served leftover deer licenses for antlerless, either species, available in units 3A1 and 3F2 and antlerless whitetails in 3F1, 3F2, & 4F. Go to the N.D. Game & Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov) for information and application.

*PLOTS guide now available online at the Game & Fish Dept. website. Printed editions available in late August.

*Anglers reminded to follow ANS regulations, including draining live wells and removing plugs.

*Applications such as Onyx now have updated electronic posting information for the upcoming 2022 hunting season.

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

*Aug. 20: Fall crow season opens.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Aug. 16: 1,450.26 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,450.2 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,836.89 MSL; 21,100 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from north-central area lakes, Devils Lake, or the Missouri River System.

*Devils Lake, Edís Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good walleye success throughout much of Devils Lake, including Pelican Lake and north end of 6-Mile Bay. Also try 6-Mile for perch.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Work deep for larger walleye but continued overall fair to good success, including the Golden Highway or 6-Mile Bay. Locate structure.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Fewer anglers on the lake but those going continue finding fair to good walleye success in the Minnewaukan Flats.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued small walleye success using lead-core and bottom bouncers or slip bobbers. Try crankbaits for larger fish. Work a variety of depths along shorelines.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Some activity continues on area lakes but fewer angler numbers and limited reports.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Look for panfish activity around the marina on Jamestown Reservoir with activity on other area lakes, as well. Also try the river. Best success remains with nightcrawlers.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fewer anglers on area lakes with limited reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Fewer anglers on the water with limited reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Steady success throughout the lake, especially an ongoing perch bite. Bass remain somewhat quiet.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Work deeper water in 25 to 35 feet and deeper on windier days on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try slow death hooks with nightcrawlers or spinners and heavy bottom bouncers.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Walleye activity slowed somewhat as fish move deeper in 25 to 35 feet. Try Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers with heavy bottom bouncers working north shore points, including the beacon. Try finding the thermocline.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: OK walleye success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea using crankbaits around Mallard Island. Best success, however, is from Douglas Bay west to Berthold Bay in 25 to 35 feet using slow death hooks and nightcrawlers. Consider switching to minnows as fish start transitioning into fall mode. Work deep, as well, for walleye on Lake Audubon but work shallow water along weed beds for muskie. Remember to release all muskie less than 48 inches.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace continues producing small walleye and eater-sized catfish from boats during the day. Try 3-way swivels in the chutes or floating jigs. Larger walleye coming from the chutes at night from boats and shore. Some trout and salmon but limited numbers in the chutes, as well. Work 35-feet and deeper on Lake Sakakawea but the east end slowed for walleye. Work points but success is inconsistent. Increasing salmon angler numbers but success slowed a little. Work 85 feet and deeper along the bottom.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Area lakes slow. N.D. rivers:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 1.96 feet; streamflow, 28.3 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 3.06 feet; streamflow, 378 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 16.6 feet; streamflow, 2,500 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.92 feet; streamflow, 254 CFS.

Hunting:

*Early Canada goose: Not many birds around the Lonetree WMA area.

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.