Dakota Recreation Report: Oct. 3, 2022

Outdoor notes:

*Hunters reminded to put identification on tree stands and blinds when set up on N.D. Game & Fish Dept. WMAs.

*Waterfowl hunters reminded to follow ANS regulations when hunting from boats.

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

*Oct. 6: Finley Fire & Ice Ducks Unlimited, Rumors Tavern, Finley, 5 p.m.

*Oct. 7: Elk season opens for lottery license holders in units E1, E2, E6, and E1W.

*Oct. 7: Moose season opens for lottery license holders in units M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, and M11.

*Oct. 8: Pheasant and fall turkey seasons open.

*Oct. 8: Fall Luminary Walk, Turtle River State Park, Arvilla.

*Oct. 13: Devils Lake Ducks Unlimited banquet, KC Club, 5:30 p.m.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Sept. 27: 1,449.63 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.66 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,834.16 MSL; 14,200 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

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

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Water temperatures decreasing on Devils Lake. Continued fair success trolling with bottom bouncers for walleye. Also try crankbaits. Try Move around to locate perch.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued small walleye success. Move into shallower water with cooling water temperatures.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Limited angler numbers but those going out continue finding fair walleye success.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: OK walleye success continues with anglers transitioning to jigging around rock piles and bridges. Fewer anglers on the water.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Not much activity throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Some success using nightcrawlers on area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Some fall activity but limited reports. Try a mix of minnows and nightcrawlers.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Continued fair to good for panfish. Look for an improving fall walleye bite.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Limited activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea but those anglers going out continue finding some walleye success. Salmon moving into shallower water with the spawn getting underway.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Lake Sakakawea still has some deep water walleye activity on the east end but fewer anglers on the water. Try Lindy rigs and bottom bouncers. Try morning hours for salmon. Work 30 to 40 feet on Lake Audubon for walleye, as well. Continued good smallmouth success.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow for walleye and salmon but good catfish success continues from both boat and shore using a variety of presentations. Work 50 feet and deeper along the east end of Lake Sakakawea for walleye using jigging Raps or slow death hooks. Move around working points. Salmon moving shallow with a bite from top water down to deep water. Try a variety of presentations. Lake Audubon improving for walleye success but limited angler numbers.

Hunting:

*Doves: Birds bunching up with increasing numbers moving out.

*Upland: Fair ruffed grouse numbers in the Turtle Mountains woods.

*Waterfowl: Lots of goose hunting activity in east-central N.D. with good local duck numbers. Good local duck numbers in the northeast. North-central N.D. has fair to good local duck numbers. Wetland conditions remain fair in north-central N.D., as well. A slight movement of northern birds, including scattered snow geese, into the northern tier of the state. Fair numbers around the east end of the Missouri River System but not many wetlands surrounding the midsection of Lake Sakakawea with limited waterfowl numbers.

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.