Dakota Recreation Report: June 29, 2020

Outdoor notes:

*The lowest three-quarters mile of Channel A as it enters Devils Lake is closed to boats and shore-fishing, the area by U.S. Hwy 2 and train bridges, due to road construction.

*Remember to get current boat registrations, keep social distancing, and boating safety requirements for life jackets, etc.

*State parks are open with camping reservations available online at (parkrec.nd.gov).

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, June 23: 1,449.39 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.56 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,843.18 MSL; 28,200 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from east-central area lakes or Devils Lake. Deepwater and Parshall bays hit-and-miss at best for walleye on Lake Sakakawea. No reports from the east end. Missouri River tailrace producing catfish but inconsistent down river

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Lots of activity with improving success with stable and calmer weather. Switch to spinners and bottom bouncers with leeches or nightcrawlers, working a variety of depths from 12 to 32 feet. Remember to release any fish caught in 20 feet and deeper. Continued good white bass success from shore. No new pike reports.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Fair to good for walleye working a variety of depths from 6 to 25 feet with fish in summer patterns. Try slip bobbers. Occasional pike. White bass remains good.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Good walleye activity throughout much of the west end of the lake.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Work deeper in 15 to 20-plus feet for walleye with best success on spinners and nightcrawlers trolling at a slow pace of no more than 1.5 mph. Try throughout the west side. Work shallow in the weeds for white bass from shore pitching small crankbaits.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Limited reports.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Smaller lakes in surrounding area still producing success but slower around Jamestown.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Reule Lake producing some perch, walleye, and crappie activity. Jamestown Reservoir fair for crappie and perch. Key and Alkali lakes fair for walleye.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Try trolling in 6 to 10 feet in the weeds for walleye. Fair to good pike, crappie, smallmouth bass, and perch success.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Lots of anglers out. Lake Ashtabula good for a nice variety of panfish, including perch, bluegill, smallmouth bass, white bass, and crappie with several nice-sized smallmouth bass. Lots of good opportunities for kids. Walleye and pike somewhat slow.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fair to good for walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea working shallow along shorelines out to 15 or 16 feet. Try Steinke Bay, east end humps, or Mallard Island or west around Church Island and Douglas Bay. Try a variety of presentations and bait. Missouri River producing nice-sized walleye in the chutes. Lake Audubon fair to good for walleye.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Good numbers of small walleye with increasing success on nightcrawlers. Work a variety of depths.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River continues producing walleye in the spillway channel with lots of small fish and anglers sorting for their keepers. Some catfish mixed in. Try Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers or leeches but a variety of other presentations are also producing success. Jigging downriver in the holes is producing larger fish. Try the cable crossing or coal veins. Chutes remain good for catfish with some walleye and salmon mixed in. Try 3-way swivels. Some night success, as well. Rocks still producing success at night from shore. Lake Sakakawea spotty on the east end for walleye. Move around to locate active fish. Try working from point to point. Look for a transition to deeper water soon. Occasional salmon using downriggers.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Generally slow success throughout most area lakes, although a few lakes are producing fair activity.

Paddle craft river elevation & flows:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 2.27 feet; streamflow, 28.7 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 2.59 feet; streamflow, 231 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 20.58 feet; streamflow, 11,200 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 4.18 feet; streamflow, 527 CFS.

Numbers to know:

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Devils Lake office: (701) 662-3617.

*N.D. Game & Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

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