New Rockford Transcript - Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Outdoor notes:

*Nontribal hunters hunting on nontribal lands within an Indian reservation are required to possess state hunting licenses. Refer to North Dakota. Game and Fish Dept. hunting guides or website, (gf.nd.gov) for more details.

*Use caution when hunting with muddy road and field conditions. Be prepared to have to walk to set field decoys in most areas and try to get permission even if land is unposted as a courtesy given wet conditions.

*Check U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl baiting regulations regarding hunting waterfowl in unharvested or harvested fields.

*Nov. 3: Moose season closes.

*Nov. 4: Woodcock and crow seasons close.

*Nov. 7: Jamestown Ducks Unlimited banquet, Gladstone Inn, 5:30 p.m.

*Nov. 8: Deer gun season opens.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Oct. 22: 1,448.7 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.73 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,843.82 MSL; 48,300 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from east-central area lakes or Devils Lake. OK walleye success on Devils Lake, weather permitting. Not much activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with slow walleye success from Deepwater Bay.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: A few more anglers out after weather stabilized. Try vertical jigging with jigging Raps or heavy weights from shore along the bridges or trolling the Golden Highway with crankbaits or spinners and bottom bouncers. Water temperatures running from 38 to 42 degrees depending on wind and sunshine, which will play a large role in success.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Weather continues limiting activity.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Weather permitting, anglers finding fair walleye success. Try jigging along the bridges and towers.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: No new reports from area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: No reports with little activity.  

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports from area lakes or Jamestown Reservoir.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Not much of a bite yet and it’s quite light. Look for improving fall bite with stable weather.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No new reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Weather permitting, anglers finding nice walleye around Douglas Bay or the east end humps on Lake Sakakawea. Try 15 to 30 feet with jigging Raps or crankbaits. Lake Audubon fair for walleye using jigs.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River chutes spotty from boats and shore during the day. Spillway area slowed with higher spillway releases. Best bite remains at night from both boat and shore using crankbaits. Not much activity on Lake Sakakawea.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No new reports. Coal Mine Lake closed until ice-over.

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

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

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

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Generally quiet.

Hunting:

*Moose: A lot of activity around the Lonetree WMA.

*Pheasants: Birds are hunkering in abundance of unharvested crops throughout much of the region.

*Waterfowl: Wet conditions persist throughout the northeast, Devils Lake, and many other areas across the state so access is extremely limited. Roads are also becoming torn up and rough. Lots of crops remain throughout an extensive area of the state. A mix of snow geese, lesser Canada geese, and mallards are moving through in force in the northeast and around Devils Lake but not many staying in the area. Divers remaining on Devils Lake itself yet. Fair numbers in east-central North Dakota. with a lot of birds migrating through. Good goose numbers migrating over Upper Souris NWR early in the week but not many birds stopping to rest yet. Not much hunting pressure around Lake Metigoshe but some ducks remain in the area with some northern birds filtering in. Some birds moving in around the Towner area, as well. Some larger flocks of snow geese moving into the Williston area along with some mallards. Lesser Canada geese and cranes moving into the midsection of Lake Sakakawea. Snow geese filtering in around the east end of Lake Sakakawea but not as many lesser Canada geese.

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.