Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Dakota Recreation Report: August 31, 2020

Outdoor notes:

*Sept. 1: Dove season opens.

*Sept. 2: Fall turkey applications due.

*Sept. 4: Mountain lion and archery deer seasons open.

*Sept. 7: Missouri River early Canada goose season closes.

*N.D. Dept. of Environmental Quality blue-green algae warning for Stump, South Golden, and Antelope lakes and advisories for Buffalo and Coal Mine Lake.

*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.

*Boating accidents should be reported to local game wardens.

Tournaments:

*Sept. 8-11: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Aug. 25: 1,449.64 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.57 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,841.27 MSL; 27,500 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No east-central area lakes, Lake Sakakawea, or Devils Lake reports Missouri River tailrace continues producing catfish.

*Devils Lake, Edís Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued walleye success with spinners and bottom bouncers. Work 12 to 14 or 18 to 22 feet with nightcrawler pieces. Also try slip bobbers and leeches, if still available, or trolling with lead-core or crankbaits in deeper water.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good for small walleye. Work weeds for larger fish with some pike mixed in.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good for walleye using a variety of presentations with smaller fish in the shallows. Work deep for larger fish. Try along the highway or slip bobbers around New Mil Bay and Pelican Lake.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir producing a mix of perch and walleye with nightcrawlers. Diamond Lake remains fair for small walleye. Alkaline Lake fair for walleye using minnows.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Scattered walleye success in a variety of depths, working the weeds or down in the channel. Some crappie activity in 14 to 25 feet. Try the bridges for bluegill and bass. Also trolling for bass.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Work deep for walleye but they remain on the small side. Sort through for any keepers.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Work a variety of depths for walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Small fish more active during the day in 14 to 35 feet. Work shallower in late afternoon and evening for larger fish. Try pitching jigs shallow or pulling crankbaits in deeper water. Slower presentations seem to be better. Also try slow death hooks. Most activity is around the mouths of bays but try working up into bays, as well.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Continued small walleye success. Work 22 to 28 feet with nightcrawlers.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace slowed for catfish, possibly due to highly variable water releases from the dam, depending on the time of day. Try rocks at night using crankbaits for walleye. Slow from boats. Lake Sakakawea continues producing walleye off points in 35 feet. Move around with better success in the morning. Try Riverdale Bluffs. Fair to good for salmon in 85 feet and deeper using white-on-white presentations with smaller squids. Also try herring and flies. Work from the intake structure to Deadman’s Bay with most activity along the face of the dam to Government Bay. Look for smallmouth bass success from shore along with some walleye and pike. Try Scoria Bay, Government Bay, or Sakakawea State Park.

Hunting:

*Early Canada goose season: Not much activity north of the Valley City area. Fair success in the northeast around Devils Lake as more small grain harvest gets underway. Not much activity around the north-central region. A few local flocks feeding in harvested fields in central N.D. around Lonetree WMA area.

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.

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