Dakota Recreation Report: Oct. 8, 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.

*Look for fewer wetlands across much of N.D., which could concentrate waterfowl and hunters.

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

*Be careful of upland species identification with immature pheasants yet.

*Oct. 12: Moose season opens (lottery licenses).

*Oct. 13: Turkey season opens.

Tournaments:

*Oct. 13- 14: Lake Ashtabula.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Oct. 1: 1,448.34 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.34 MSL.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Little activity throughout most east-central area lakes and Devils Lake.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: no report.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Not many anglers but those going are finding a few more larger-sized walleye. Try crankbaits.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Continued small walleye activity.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued small walleye success but not many anglers out.

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

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Activity remains light on area lakes and Jamestown reservoir.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Little activity on the reservoir and area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Try jigs and minnows for an evening walleye bite along the bridges. Fair smallmouth bass success.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No new walleye reports but the limited numbers of anglers our continue finding smallmouth bass.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Not many anglers on the east end of Lake Sakakawea but those going out are finding walleye moving shallower in 10 to 15 feet. Try a variety of presentations, mixing jigs or Lindy rigs and minnows, jigging Raps, or crankbaits. Missouri River producing nice night bite from the chutes working down river.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River continues producing walleye from boats in the chutes and down river around the spillway channel using 3-way swivels. Improving catfish success in the chutes from boats. Try the rocks at night from shore for a mix of walleye and salmon. Lake Sakakawea remains slow from boats for walleye, possibly weather-related. A few salmon coming from shore along Government and Scoria bays. Try a variety of presentations.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Not much activity.

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

*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Little activity.

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Little activity.

Hunting:

*Cranes: Some bird movement around north-central and central N.D.

*Waterfowl: Some Canada goose and duck movement in north-central N.D., the Devils Lake area, and central N.D. Lots of hunting activity in areas where wetlands are still holding water with overall OK success for most hunters. Generally, most ducks are local birds yet but some movement is starting to occur along the northern tier of the state. No big movement from southern Manitoba yet. Look for bigger push with cooler weather and rain or snow. Some lesser moving in along the midsection of Lake Sakakawea.

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.