Dakota Recreation Report: September 11, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*Sept. 15: Early Canada Goose Western Zone closes.

*Sept. 16: Sandhill crane season opens.

*Sept. 21: Valley City Ducks Unlimited Hunter’s Party, Valley City Eagles Club, 5:30 p.m.

*Sept. 22: Eastern Zone Early Canada Goose closes.

*Sept. 23: Resident waterfowl season opens.

Tournaments:

*Sept. 23: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Sept. 5: 1,449.6 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.77 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,841.27 MSL; 22,100 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake remains fair for small walleye with bigger fish coming deeper in 25 to 35 feet. Occasional scattered white bass success. Area lakes remain quiet.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good for walleye but water is greening up. Try Fort Totten Bay or Cactus Point. Lots of small walleye from East Bay.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good small walleye success.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Walleye activity slowed somewhat with anglers still using nightcrawlers. Start out working deep in 20 to 30 feet and move in shallower to locate walleye with most activity on the west end of Devils Lake.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Angling activity generally remains quiet on area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: No new reports.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Nice crappie success in the shallows coming from Jamestown Reservoir with a few walleye mixed in. No reports from Pipestem Reservoir.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Improving walleye success. Try vertical jigging with a switch into fall presentations.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No new reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Continue working deep for walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Some salmon success along the south side on the east end in 85 feet over about 95 feet. No Lake Audubon reports.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Walleye remain deep on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with smaller fish in the 16-inch range coming around Garrison and Douglas bays. Bigger fish in the 18-inch range coming around Berthold Bay to the west. Try switching to minnows. Continued nice muskie bite on Lake Audubon. Work shallow in the morning and deeper in the afternoon. Remember to release all muskie less than 48 inches. Smallmouth bass activity remains fair and steady.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace fair for walleye in the spillway channel using jigs and minnows but lots of small fish. Off-and-on catfish success from boats using frozen smelt in the spillway or chutes. Also try the wing walls or Spillway Lake from shore using Lindy rigs, heavy weight on the bottom, and nightcrawler. Walleye remain in 45 feet and deeper off the points on the south side of east end of Lake Sakakawea with fish around 30 to 35 feet around Douglas Bay to the west on the north shore. Some salmon success in 75 feet to 110 feet down on the south side of the east end of the lake. Spawning fish haven’t moved in that much yet.

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

Hunting:

*Deer: Warm weather limiting deer movement for the weekend opener.

*Doves: Good numbers around many areas but birds generally not bunching much yet.

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.