Dakota Recreation Report: August 21, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*N.D. Dept. of Environmental Quality blue-green algae reports: Low toxin levels – Black Tiger Bay (Devils Lake), Benson Co .; Clausen Springs, Barnes Co .; Crystal Springs, Kidder & Stutsman counties; East Stump Lake, Nelson Co .; Heckers Lake, Sheridan Co .; Horsehead Lake, Kidder Co .; Lake Josephine, Kidder Co .; Moon Lake, Barnes Co .; Reule Lake, Stutsman Co .; South Hoffer Lake, Sheridan Co .; Spiritwood Lake, Stutsman Co. Advisory – Alkali Lake, Stutsman Co .; Jamestown Reservoir, Stutsman Co. Warnings: Harvey Dam, Wells Co. Go to the agency website, (deq.nd.gov) for more information and safety precautions.

*Fish don’t survive when coming up from 25 feet and deeper and the N.D. Game & Fish Dept. advises anglers keep those fish.

*Aug. 24: Grand Forks Ducks Unlimited event, Grand Forks Alerus Center, 5:30 p.m.

*Sept 1: Dove, archery pronghorn (lottery license holders only), archery deer, and mountain lion seasons open.

Tournaments:

*Aug. 19: Pipestem Reservoir, Parkhurst Landing; Lake Sakakawea, Sakakawea State Park.

*Aug. 26: Spiritwood Lake, main ramp; Woodland Resort.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Aug. 15: 1,449.88 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.9 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,842.42 MSL; 22,300 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: Look for continued small walleye success.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued good walleye success but they’re mostly on the small side. Work structure in various depths depending on wind and cloud cover.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good walleye success in18 to 25 feet using spinners and bottom bouncers. Also try vertical jigging. Work Pelican Lake or the west side of the Minnewaukan Flats.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Some angling throughout area lakes but limited reports.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Overall less angling activity throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued activity on Jamestown Reservoir with anglers using a mix of nightcrawlers and minnows.

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

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Fewer anglers on the lake with limited reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Work deep on the east end of Lake Sakakawea for walleye although occasionally a few fish are showing up shallow in the evening. No reports from Lake Audubon.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Some walleye starting to move into a little shallower water. Try 20 to 25 feet using jigging Raps or nightcrawlers. Also try crankbaits working deeper water. Work along the south shore from McKenzie Bay to Independence Point.

*Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Continue working 30 to 40 feet on Lake Sakakawea using jigging Raps or slow death hooks with nightcrawlers working from Douglas to Berthold bays along the north shore. Try chasing muskie on Lake Audubon but all muskie less than 48 inches must be released. Move around in deep water to locate muskie and fish suspended.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow from boats with occasional success at best during the day. Try the spillway channel but walleye are small. Some catfish from the wing walls but river is slow. Try using crushed smelt or small minnows. A few walleye taken at night from shore or from boats working the chutes. Lake Sakakawea fair for walleye on the east end with best success in 40 to 50 feet. Keep those fish when taken from deep water, however. A few coming from 20 to 22 feet but not many. Better success with slow death hooks in deeper water. Try 85 feet over deeper water with flashers and squids for salmon on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Basically work within 10 feet of the thermocline.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Area lakes slow with several now weedy.

N.D. river flows:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 1.31 feet; streamflow, 7.22 CFS.

*Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Creek elevation, 5.35 feet; streamflow, 37.1 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 16.26 feet; streamflow, 1,950 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.78 feet; streamflow, 225 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 & Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

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