Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Outdoor notes:
*Resident deer applicants unsuccessful in the first lottery have until July 22 to apply for the second lottery for leftover licenses available in some units. Go to the N.D. Game & Fish Dept. website, (grf.nd.gov), for details and application.
*Watchable Wildlife photo contest underway with Oct. 2 deadline. Contact N.D. Game & Fish Dept. conservation biologist, Patrick Isakson, [email protected] for details.
Fishing:
*Devils Lake elevation, July 7: 1,449.75 feet above mean sea level (MSL).
*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.64 MSL.
*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,844 MSL; 27,900 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison
Dam daily releases:
*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Improving walleye success at Deepwater Bay on Lake Sakakawea and farther to the east end. No reports from the Van Hook Arm but look for continued small walleye success. Mixed success on Devils Lake, perhaps in part with lots of recreational boating activity and weather fronts moving through.
*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good walleye success. Try 20 to 25 feet but work shallow, as well, using spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers or leeches. Also try slip bobbers or trolling crankbaits in the same depths. Not many pike reports but continues white bass success.
*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good for walleye. Start working deeper around 20 feet and vary depths to locate fish.
*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Continued improving walleye success in a range of sizes. Work deeper with more traditional summer presentations.
*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Fair to good for walleye using spinners with nightcrawlers in 10 to 13 feet. Try the west half of Devils Lake. Continued fair to good for pike, although white bass slowed somewhat.
*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Continued fair activity throughout area lakes. Try nightcrawlers or leeches.
*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Start working deeper with smile blades and bottom bouncers on area lakes for walleye. Try jigs on Jamestown Reservoir for perch and walleye. Lots of carp opportunities for bow fishermen on area rivers. Big Mallard Marsh producing walleye.
*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Try spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers or leeches or crankbaits for walleye in 7 to 17 feet. Some pike mixed in, along with some panfish.
*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Water clarity and quality remain good, although shorelines are getting weedy. Shore success for panfish slowed with OK success for walleye from boats.
*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Better walleye success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea remains farther west around Deepwater Bay with some improving activity in Garrison Bay. Try around 17 feet with spinners and nightcrawlers. Continued good catfish in the Missouri River tailrace chutes.
*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Try the north side flats for walleye in 8 to 20 feet with crankbaits. Work inside the bays as well as the points
*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains consistent from boats in the channel for small walleye. Try spinners or slow death rigs with nightcrawlers. Chutes continue producing catfish with a few walleye mixed in with success at night for walleye from the rocks along the shore. East end of Lake Sakakawea spotty for walleye. Move around and try to locate fish using crankbaits, and then shift to slow death rigs with nightcrawlers or leeches. Also try jigging in the weeds in shallow water.
*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Scattered small walleye success at Grano and on Lake Darling. Look for some weed and algae growth starting, though. No new reports from Lake Audubon.
*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No new reports.
*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: The N.D. Dept. of Environmental Quality issued a blue-green algae bloom advisory for the lake. Follow recommendations for people and dogs, alike.
Paddle craft river elevation & flows:
*James River, Kensal: River stage, 2.42 feet; streamflow, 35.7 CFS.
*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 2.4 feet; streamflow, 174 CFS.
*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 23.42 feet; streamflow, 11,400 CFS.
*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 5.88 feet; streamflow, 1,330 CFS.
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 & Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.
*Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121 or (701) 328-9921.