Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Outdoor notes:
*Watch duck identification with so many ducks not fully colored yet.
*Oct. 9: Moose season opens.
*Oct. 10: Pheasant and fall turkey seasons open.
*Oct. 11: Bonus blue-winged teal season closes.
*N.D. Dept. of Environmental Quality issued blue-green algae advisories for Buffalo, Wood, Dry, East and West Stump, and Antelope lakes and Devils Lake.
Fishing:
*Devils Lake elevation, Sept. 28: 1,449.04 feet above mean sea level (MSL).
*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.04 MSL.
*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,839.79 MSL; 14,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.
*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Wind limiting activity but work protected shorelines in 16 to 22 feet on windy days for walleye. Try spinners and live bait or crankbaits. Lots of activity around the bridges in the morning and evening vertical jigging for walleye.
*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Walleye success is tougher with windy conditions.
*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Look for a transition to vertical jigging with lots of small walleye.
*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Limited activity throughout area lakes.
*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Area lakes quiet with wind and cool weather, although some area pike lakes producing success. Look for scattered perch activity.
*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Alkali Lake and area lakes producing success. Try minnows.
*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Improving pike and walleye success. Try jigs and minnows or crankbaits. Continued smallmouth bass success with several nice-sized ones mixed in. Try smaller crankbaits.
*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Persistent winds slowing angler numbers. Those going out are finding slow pike success but continued good bass activity. Occasional walleye with a few perch mixed in. Bluegill and crappie slowed.
*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Wind and cool weather limiting activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea.
*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace continues producing some shore success for walleye during the day but best activity remains at night. Try crankbaits or spoons for salmon from shore during the day. Good catfish success during the day with a few trout mixed. Boat fishing is tough with low water releases. Walleye remain spread out on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try nightcrawlers and move around. Look for water temperatures to cool down with wind and cooler night temperatures. A few salmon coming from shore around the spillway area or Scoria and Marina bays. Try spoons or crankbaits.
*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Quiet.
*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fair to good walleye success.
Hunting:
*Cranes: Some scattered flocks in north-central parts of the state around the Towner area.
*Upland: Scattered grouse success in areas with prairie and CRP but overall numbers are down in many areas. Fair grouse success around the Lonetree WMA area.
*Waterfowl: Fair to good opening weekend success with nice waterfowl numbers in the region and throughout areas with wetlands throughout the southeast and east-central parts of N.D. Nice local duck and goose numbers in the area. Good numbers of ducks and geese throughout other areas with wetlands and lakes, including Lonetree WMA. Good waterfowl success in the Devils Lake area but not much for any in-migration of birds yet anywhere in the state, including north-central N.D.
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.