Dakota Recreational Report: Sept. 25, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*Be sure of proper bird identification with partridge, grouse and young pheasants.

*Please park out of the way of other vehicles and farm equipment on prairie roads and trails.

*Sept. 30: Nonresident waterfowl season opens.

*Sept. 30: Flannel Fest, Lewis & Clark State Park.

*Sept. 30 & Oct. 1: Youth pheasant season.

*Oct. 6: Pronghorn season opens.

*Oct. 7: Pheasant season opens.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Sept. 19: 1,449.45 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.46 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,840.38 MSL; 18,000 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: Continued fair to good walleye success with several in the 17-inch range taken around Doc Hagen’s.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Anglers working harder for walleye. Try moving into shallower water.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: A few more nice-sized walleye showing up with continued fair to good success for small fish.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good small walleye success. Start out working shallow and then move into deeper water around rock piles and towers.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Area lakes remain quiet.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Activity slowed on area lakes but those anglers going out continue using a mix of nightcrawlers yet with minnows.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited activity throughout area lakes.

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

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Limited reports but look for continued fair to good perch success.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Lake Audubon improving for walleye. Continue working deep in about 40 feet on the east end of Lake Sakakawea for some walleye activity.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Walleye remain scattered in about 25 to 50 feet with increasing success using minnows. Continue trying nightcrawlers yet, however. Improving activity around the beacon. Bait shop closed for the season but campground remains open.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Work main lake points or sunken humps on the east end of Lake Sakakawea in 24 to 40 feet for walleye using Lindy rigs and bottom bouncers with minnows or nightcrawlers. Also try jigging Raps or shiner minnows. Better bite has been around Mallard Island and Pick City west to Hazen Bay along the south shore. Also try Berthold Bay on the north shore. Try 25 to 30 feet with spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers for walleye on Lake Audubon. Continued smallmouth bass success in 2 to 12 feet using top water or swim baits.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow with a few catfish and walleye in the spillway channel from boats. Try jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers. Try crankbaits in the main river. Limited salmon and trout activity. Shore-fishing slow during the day with better success at night. Occasional success from the wing walls during the day. East end of Lake Sakakawea producing a few walleye off the points in 40 to 50 feet using spinners or slow death hooks and minnows. Some fish are shallower but seem less active. Try Steinke, Douglas or Government bays and around Alcatraz. Salmon are starting to move into shallower water.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Area lakes generally quiet.

Hunting:

*Doves: Fair numbers remain across many areas of the state.

*Upland: Generally fair partridge and grouse activity yet.

*Waterfowl: Look for fair to good bird numbers throughout areas with fair to good water conditions.

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.