Dakota Recreation Report: May 22, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*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 24: Red River, North Forks Landing.

*May 31: Red River, North Forks Landing.

*June 2 and 3: Missouri River tailrace.

*June 3: Devils Lake, East Bay; Lake Sakakawea, Sportsmen’s Centennial.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, May 16: 1,450.67 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,450.49 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,830.42 MSL; 17,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

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

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Devils Lake feeder coulees remain fair to good for walleye but have slowed somewhat. Try slip bobbers for walleye on Pelican Lake. Main Devils Lake is open with some boat fishing activity.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Improving pike activity in the feeder creeks and channels from shore with a few walleye scattered in. Some areas on main lake back bays are warming up so look for walleye activity to improve as weather and water continues to warm.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: No new reports.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued good walleye success along the shorelines of the northern feeder creeks and coulees. Locate the warmest water pitching jigs and minnows. Main Devils Lake is ice-free. Look for increasing walleye activity with the spawn winding down.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: A few anglers checking out area lakes but limited reports on success.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Generally quiet yet and somewhat light angler numbers.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Hit-and-miss success on area lakes with most anglers fishing the river.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: No new fishing reports but the facility tentatively plans to open in late May. Docks are in place.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Some perch success from shore and along the docks. Some boat activity but light success so far. Boat docks in place.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: North Lake on Lake Audubon remains fair to good for walleye. A few anglers on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with scattered walleye success at best. Better success west around the New Town area.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: North Lake on Lake Audubon continues producing walleye. Water is being pumped from Lake Sakakawea into Lake Audubon to get it to its normal annual summer elevation. East end of Lake Sakakawea still generally tough for a walleye bite.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Increasing activity on the Missouri River tailrace but limited success yet from either boat or shore. More anglers on the east end of Lake Sakakawea, as well, but activity also slow.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Anglers getting out on area lakes but no reports on success.

N.D. river data:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 8.08 feet; streamflow, 1,250 CFS.

*Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Creek elevation, 10.13 feet; streamflow, 1,170 CFS.

*Red River, Thompson: River stage, 34.45 feet; streamflow, 13,300 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 4.63 feet; streamflow, 541 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.

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