Dakota Recreation Report: November 14, 2022

Outdoor notes:

 *Reminder that most roads and trails closed to hunting if posted on both sides.

 *Check all PLOTS signage before driving into fields with vehicles when waterfowl hunting to ensure landowner allows vehicles.

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

 *Nov. 20: Deer gun season closes.

 *Nov. 20: Zone 1 Early Season mountain lion season closes.

 *Nov. 25: Deer muzzleloader season opens.

Fishing:

 *Devils Lake elevation, Nov. 8: 1,449.21 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

 *Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.25 MSL.

 *Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,832.79 MSL; 15,500 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

 *N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No new reports.

 *Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: No new reports.

 *Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Weather continues limiting weather.

 *Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Weather shut down fishing.

 *Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Weather front shut down activity.

 *Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: No activity throughout area lakes.

 *Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: No activity as anglers wait for transition to ice-over. James River remains low.

 *Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Area lakes quiet.

 *Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: No new reports with little activity.

 *Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Shallow back bays are starting to skim over with ice but opening with wind.

 *Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Weather permitting, anglers continue heading to Deepwater Bay and the New Town area on Lake Sakakawea for walleye. Try jigging Raps in 35 to 45 feet.

 *Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Light activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea, although a few anglers continue finding walleye success around Douglas Bay, weather permitting. Try jigging Raps or vertical jigging with minnows, which is producing the most activity. Work 15 to 40 feet. Lake Audubon annual winter drawdown is complete. A few anglers also on Audubon working shallow in 3 to 8 feet for walleye. Try jigs and minnows in back bays or east embankment culverts. Decent smallmouth bass success continues working a variety of presentations in the early morning

 *Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains light for angler numbers during the day with better success at night. East end of Lake Sakakawea remains quiet with most walleye activity at Van Hook Arm and New Town, weather permitting. Try jigging Raps.

 *Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No activity on area lakes.

Hunting:

 *Deer: Lots of activity.

 *Waterfowl: Good numbers of geese in northeast N.D. and the Devils Lake area but wetlands and even larger lakes iced over. Small and mid-sized wetlands iced over across most of northwest N.D. moving birds to the big water bays of Lake Sakakawea. Good numbers of snow geese across east-central N.D. but wetlands and lakes also mostly iced over and birds could move out quickly.

Numbers to know:

 *N.D. Game and Fish Department, Devils Lake office: (701) 662-3617.

 *Report All Poachers: (701) 328-9921.