Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Dakota Recreation Report: May 17, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*Deer gun and muzzleloader applications now available on the N.D. Game & Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov). Applications are due June 2.

*Paddlefish snagging season now closed.

Tournaments:

*May 22: Spiritwood Lake.

*May 23: Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing; Lake Audubon, Totten Trail.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, May 11: 1,448.29 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,224.24 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,834.75 MSL; 21,600 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

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

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Water temperatures remain cool, but look for improving success with warming water. Try vertical jigging along the bridges or casting jigs, plastics, or crankbaits in the shallows in the morning or mid-afternoon hours. Move around and search for warm water. Try leeches, if available.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: A late pike bite is on, so look for improving walleye success as water temperatures warm. Work shallow water, casting out from shore.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Try shallow, warm water for walleye from shore out to 10 feet, using jigs and minnows or leeches, if available. Also try pitching plastics. Some pike mixed in with walleye.

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

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Increasing activity on area lakes with warming water temperatures, but limited reports on success. Try jigs and minnows in shallow water.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Limited reports, although lake is close to normal elevations. Look for more activity with warmer water temperatures.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Lake levels are close to near normal spring elevations. Scattered walleye success, but pike and bass remain slow.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Work shallow in the upper ends of Lake Audubon for walleye, pitching jigs and minnows up towards shore. East end of Lake Sakakawea spotty for walleye with the spawn underway. Look for improving activity after the post-spawn lull. Fort Stevenson State Park courtesy docks in place.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Walleye activity remains slow with cool water temperatures yet. Resort opens May 28 with regular summer hours.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow from boat and shore. Lake Sakakawea continues producing some pike from shore, with occasional walleye, although activity limited on the east end.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No new reports throughout area lakes.

N.D. rivers, river stage and streamflow:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 1.11 feet; streamflow, 1.51 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 1.36 feet; streamflow, 27 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 16.85 feet; streamflow, 2,950 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.04 feet; streamflow, 46.2 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.