Dakota Recreation Report: August 20, 2018

Outdoor notes:

*Beware of blue-green algae on area lakes and wetlands with weather and water conditions prime for the deadly toxin growth. Keep dogs out of any questionable water because it’s deadly and death can occur rapidly.

*Remember to have adequate numbers of lifejackets and proper lighting on boats.

*Anglers need to plan to keep any fish caught in water deeper than 25 feet because they typically can’t survive coming up from that deep.

*Aug. 31: Archery deer and mountain lion seasons open. Archery pronghorn season opens for lottery license holders.

Tournaments:

*Aug. 24 - 25: Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation: 1,449.27 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.21 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,849.51 MSL; 46,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake continues producing small walleye. No Lake Sakakawea or east-central area lake reports.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: West end of Devils Lake starting to produce a few larger walleye. Try trolling spinners and nightcrawlers in 30 to 50 feet. Good numbers of smaller fish. Continued white bass and pike activity.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Numbers of 15 to 17-inch walleye showing up with occasional large fish mixed in. Overall success still somewhat slow. Try spinners and bottom bouncers or slip bobbers.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Good numbers of small walleye trolling spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers. Work deep water for larger fish in 35-plus feet.

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

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Heat continues limiting activity on Jamestown Reservoir and throughout most area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No new reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Continued fair perch, crappie, and white bass success with occasional larger walleye.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Continued bass success with occasional walleye mixed in but angler numbers are light.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: East end of Lake Sakakawea producing some walleye in 30 to 55 feet using crankbaits, jigging Raps, or slow death hooks with heavy bottom bouncers. Try the east end humps off Mallard Island, south shore from Pick City to the west, or humps off the U.S. Hwy 83 embankment. No Lake Audubon or Missouri River reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Not much activity. Try working deep for walleye in 35 to 40 feet with more activity around Deepwater Bay to the west. Try crankbaits or heavy bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers.

 *Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River producing a few walleye from the spillway pilot channel. Try Lindy rigs with minnows or nightcrawlers from boats. Main river remains slow. Slower releases could bring some walleye success in the chutes at night. Work deep on Lake Sakakawea for walleye using Lindy rigs with better success in deeper water on the main lake. A few fish still lingering in weed beds, though. Try at least 35 feet with better success farther west than along the east end. Salmon success continues north of Government Bay. Work 100 feet and deeper with flashers and squids or herring but look for fish to move shallower. Watch the thermocline and fish will start transitioning to the face of the dam.

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

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Light to little activity.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited reports.

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

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.

N.D. river canoeing/kayaking elevation & streamflow:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 1.57 feet.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 1.85 feet.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 16.16 feet.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.89 feet.

Hunting:

*Early Canada goose season: Good numbers of local birds in the Devils Lake area but fewer numbers around north-central down to central parts of the state.

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 and Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

*Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121 or (701) 328-9921.