Dakota Recreation Report: August 10, 2020

Outdoor notes:

*Aug. 12: Tundra swan applications due. Go to the N.D. Game & Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov) to apply.

*N.D. Dept. of Environmental Quality blue-green algae advisories for Buffalo, and Coal Mine lakes and Jamestown Reservoir.

*Do not release any fish caught from water 25 feet and deeper because their swim bladder likely won’t allow them to survive when coming up from deep water.

*Watchable Wildlife photo contest underway with Oct. 2 deadline. Contact N.D. Game & Fish Dept. conservation biologist, Patrick Isakson, [email protected]) for details.

Tournaments:

*Aug. 15: Devils Lake, Creel Bay; Lake Audubon.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Aug. 4: 1,449.84 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.79 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,843.12 MSL; 28,200 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Improving walleye success on Devils Lake, although many remain on the small side. Not much fishing pressure around most east-central area lakes with limited reports.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good walleye success with most activity using spinners and bottom bouncers. Work shallow in the morning in 12 to 18 feet, moving deeper later in the day. Also try trolling lead-core or crankbaits in deeper water. Pike remain quiet but try casting crankbaits in shallow water. Continued fair to good for white bass using jigs or plastics and minnows in shallow water.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Lots of small walleye success continues with better activity on windier days. Look for larger walleye along weed beds.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Steady water temperatures helping provide ongoing fair to good walleye success. Work deeper for larger fish as far out to 20 feet using slip bobbers or trolling spinners with leeches or nightcrawlers. Move around. White bass remain fair.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Generally fair activity throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued fair to good activity throughout area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Continued fair to good success for a variety of species, including occasional walleye. Try a mix of presentations working channel edges. Continued white bass success from shore. Release any muskie less than 48 inches in length.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Fair for crappie and other panfish with an occasional walleye mixed in.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Move around, working deeper water down to 40 feet to locate walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea and then try a variety of presentations.  *Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Improving walleye success working to the east of the resort. Try 17 to 30 feet using spinners and nightcrawlers.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace continues producing small walleye from boats in the spillway channel. Try Lindy rigs or spinners and nightcrawlers. Some dark hour success trolling in the chutes. Fair for walleye from the rocks offshore in the evening but activity slowed. Slower during the day with limited trout and salmon activity in the tailrace. Continued catfish success throughout the tailrace. Lake Sakakawea producing small walleye on the east end. Work anywhere from 13 to 35 feet using live bait for small fish. Larger fish coming in deeper water using crankbaits. Try Douglas or Steinke bays or north side of Mallard Island. Also try 3 bays west of Pick City along the south shore. Somewhat of a slow to fair salmon bite with an average of about 8 pounds with scattered success in 85 feet over 100 to 120 feet.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Goose Lake fair to good for walleye running Lindy rigs or spinners with bottom bouncers. Some nice-sized fish being taken.

Paddle craft river elevation & flows:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 4.05 feet; streamflow, 312 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 2.26 feet; streamflow, 137 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 18.86 feet; streamflow, 7,440 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 4.05; streamflow, 312 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.