Dakota Recreation Report: April 12, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*New 2021 fishing, hunting and trapping licenses now needed.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, April 6: 1,448.52 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.4 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,836.62 MSL; 21,800 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No east-central area lake reports. Most lakes south of U.S. Highway 2 in central North Dakota have open water with some activity, but limited success yet. No Devils Lake reports. Deepwater Bay producing a few scattered walleye on Lake Sakakawea. Anglers reminded to keep vehicles, include ATVs and UTVs off the shoreline.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Devils Lake shorelines opening up. Minimal runoff coming into feeder coulees.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Not much activity with the ice just coming off the lake and little runoff in the feeder coulees.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Lake Alice, Mike’s Lake, and Lake Irvine have open water. Look for Devils Lake to open soon. Some activity around the N.D. Highway 21 bridge.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Area lakes generally slow with light activity at best yet.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Area lakes are ice-free but limited reports yet. Look for some activity in area rivers, but they’re low with minimal spring runoff.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Area lakes ice-free with some activity on small lakes throughout the region as well as rivers.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Increasing walleye activity along the rocks and shallows in the back bays. Some perch and crappie mixed in. Try jigs and minnows.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No new reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: East end of Lake Sakakawea producing walleye with access at Steinke and Douglas bays. Try jigs and minnows. Some pike mixed in. Missouri River tailrace improving for walleye. No reports from Lake Audubon.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains somewhat slow, but look for improving success as spawn gets underway. Try jigs and minnows in deep water for walleye on Lake Sakakawea on the south side of the east end of the lake. Some nice-sized pike from shore using smelt or herring.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Increasing shore-fishing activity along several area lakes.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Not much activity yet.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.

*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: No reports.

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited activity.

N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. trails

(conditions can vary):

*North Dakota state parks open with trails usable for hiking. Check with individual parks for amenities now open. New park passes now available.

Turkey hunting:

*Look for birds to start getting active with warm weather.

Migration:

*Light geese: Most birds moved through northern North Dakota along the border. A few birds still around the Devils Lake area, but most have moved through or aren’t staying for any length of time. Some birds still field-feeding around the Lonetree WMA region in central North Dakota, but they likely won’t stay much longer. Huntable numbers lingered around Barnes and Cass counties last weekend, but look for them to move quickly as well.

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.