Dakota Recreation Report: September 10, 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.

*No baiting allowed on Fish and Wildlife Nat’l. Wildlife Refuges, Waterfowl Production Areas and Game and Fish Dept. Wildlife Mgmt. Areas.

*Sept. 14: Youth deer season opens.

*Sept. 15: Youth waterfowl, sandhill crane and snipe seasons open.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Sept. 4: 1,448.83 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.69 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,846.09 MSL; 46,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake spotty for walleye with anglers working hard for any limits. Try a variety of depths. Lots of small walleye. Goose Lake producing walleye but other east-central area lakes quiet. Red River water levels remain low with cooler water and air temperatures putting catfish into a little more of a feeding pattern. Look for hit-and-miss success, though and be patient working upstream from mid-river current, holes and snags. Try frozen suckers or goldeye. No Lake Sakakawea reports.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued good for small walleye trolling spinners and bottom bouncers in 15 to 20 feet.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued small walleye success with a few more eater-sized fish showing up. Try shallow structure in 8 to 10 feet.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Look for continued small walleye success with some nicer ones starting to show up.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued good numbers of small walleye. Try 14 feet with spinners and bottom bouncers and nightcrawlers. Try mixing it up in deeper water around rock piles to locate larger fish.

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

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: No new reports from the reservoir and area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir and area lakes generally quiet.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Look for an evening walleye bite using spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers around the rocks along the bridges and channel. Some nice-sized bluegill in the shallows. Look for some nice bass and perch, as well.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Continued good panfish success but pike and walleye remain slow.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Garrison: Some angling activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Look for the start of a transition to minnows once the lake turns over. Continue working deep and move around with fish scattered.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Somewhat tough walleye success. Try 20 to 30 feet with jigging Raps. Walleye are scattered so move around.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River remains OK from boats in the chutes, Spillway Channel, and down river. Lots of fishing activity with a mix of salmon, walleye and catfish. Look for increasing catfish numbers once spillway releases end but spillway success could slow. Some success from the rocks at night from shore. Fair in the chutes from boats for a mix of species during the day. Lake Sakakawea remains inconsistent. Try jigging in deep water in 30 feet with nightcrawlers. Inconsistent success, however, so mix up presentations. Try Alcatraz, three bays to the west, or Douglas Bay. Salmon also inconsistent but try 80 to 110 feet over 80 to 160 feet of water. Try herring and flashers and squids with some spoon success.

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

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

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Little activity.

*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Not much activity.

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

Hunting:

*Doves: Fair to good numbers throughout many areas of the state yet. Look for birds to move out more as evening weather cools.

*Early Canada goose: Limited hunter numbers with light success and fewer birds in east-central and north-central N.D., as well as the Devils Lake area.

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.