Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Dakota Recreation Report: October 16, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*Blue-green algae is still present in some area wetlands and lakes so watch water conditions before allowing hunting dogs into the water. It’s deadly and death can occur in minutes.

*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.

*Oct. 22: Pronghorn season closes.

*Oct. 27: James Valley Pheasants Forever banquet, Club 1883, Jamestown, 5 p.m.

*Oct. 28: Mink, weasel and muskrat trapping season opens.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Oct. 9: 1,449.49 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.52 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,840.25 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 Devils Lake or east-central area lakes with little activity on the Missouri River System.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Not as many anglers on the water with limited reports.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Anglers working shallower water with cooler water and air temperatures with fair walleye success.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Continued activity around Mauvais Coulee and 6-Mile Bay.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good for walleye with lots of small fish yet. Work shallower water using spinners and bottom bouncers or try vertical jigging in deeper water.

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

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: A few anglers continue working area lakes but limited reports on success.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Closed during construction.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Limited activity with no new reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Better walleye activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea is farther west from Douglas Bay. Water releases into Lake Sakakawea from Lake Audubon are complete so activity quieted along the Highway 83 embankment.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: East end of Lake Sakakawea remains slow with the walleye taken still found in deeper water around 40 to 50 feet.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow from both boat and shore. Look for improving salmon success, though, as more fish move through the dam and some small walleye in the spillway channel yet. Try 30 to 50 feet off the points on the east end of Lake Sakakawea using minnows or nightcrawlers with some crankbait activity. Fair salmon activity from boats and shore with off-and-on success. Look for improving success as temperatures drop.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Limited activity on area lakes.

Hunting:

*Cranes: A few sandhill cranes starting to trickle into central areas of the state.

*Upland: Nice pheasant numbers in some areas of west-central N.D. but lots of birds still not fully colored.

*Waterfowl: Limited migration yet with mostly local ducks and geese across much of the state, although a few scattered snow geese moving into northwestern and north-central N.D. Some ducks moving around the northern tier of the state. Lots of activity around northeast and east-central N.D.