Dakota Recreation Report: May 15, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*Antler shed hunting prohibited on all U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges.

*Boat registrations now required for the new 3-year registration cycle.

*May 28: Badlands Gravel Battle 100+ Bicycle Race, Medora. Call (701) 391-2717 for details.

Tournaments:

*May 17: Red River, North Forks Landing.

*May 20: Devils Lake, Creel Bay.

*May 20 - 21: Lake Audubon, Totten Trail.

*May 24: Red River, North Forks Landing.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, May 9: 1,450.44 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,450.24 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,829.58 MSL; 16,900 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from east-central area lakes or Devils Lake. Continued paddlefish activity in the legal snagging zones on the upper end of Lake Sakakawea. Follow the Game & Fish website, (gf.nd.gov), for the potential of early snag-and-release closure.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Devils Lake opening in the bays and parts of the main lake. Lots of activity in northern feeder coulees and creeks from shore for walleye. Lake Region Anglers Club in process of putting docks in place on public ramps.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Ice moving and disappearing on main Devils Lake with bays open.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Good walleye activity off Devils Lake bridges.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Creel Bay is ice-free with potential for lingering ice on the main lake. Good shore bite for walleye with fish spawn complete in some, but not all, areas of the lake. Good pike bite but look for that to slow as spawn winds down.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: No new reports with lakes open but little activity.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: A few anglers on area lakes checking for late pike activity using smelt with some anglers testing shorelines for walleye with minnows.

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

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Lake is open but docks aren’t in place yet with little activity.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: North Lake on Lake Audubon producing nice walleye. Douglas and Garrison bays on the east end of Lake Sakakawea are largely open and ramps are usable with a few boats starting to go out. De Trobriand Bay is starting to open up.

*Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Try pitching jigs in North Lake of Lake Audubon for smallmouth bass with a few walleye mixed in. Anglers were waiting for ice-out on the rest of Lake Audubon early in the week. Occasional walleye coming from the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try pitching jigs and minnows along rock bars in Steinke or Centennial bays in 2 to 12 feet. Decent pike bite along the north side back bays.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains limited for both success and angler numbers. Look for some pike from shore on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Back bays are opening up but the main lake is still iced over on the east end.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No new reports.

N.D. river data:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 8.33 feet; streamflow, 1,370 CFS.

*Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Creek elevation, 9.77 feet; streamflow, 931 CFS.

*Red River, Thompson: River stage, 35.78 feet; streamflow, 14,500 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 5.04 feet; streamflow, 750 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 and Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

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