Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Dakota Recreation Report: July 5, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*Fireworks not allowed on N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Wildlife Mgmt. Areas or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges or Waterfowl Production Areas.

*Check local fire restrictions when camping, etc.

*Leave baby wildlife alone, especially fawns because their mothers are likely nearby.

*July 14: Leftover deer gun license application deadline. Go to the N.D. Game and Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov) for details and application.

Tournaments:

*July 10: Devils Lake, Lakewood.

*July 16 and 17: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park; Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, June 29: 1,447.94 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,447.94 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,836.59 MSL; 22,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No new reports.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Fair, but inconsistent walleye activity on East Devils Lake with better success around Grahams Island. Try spinners with leeches or nightcrawlers with some success still on slip bobbers or jigging.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued good for walleye with fish moving a little deeper in 14 to 20 feet outside of weed beds and along structure, including rock piles. Some nicer fish showing up. Look for more of a trolling bite with spinners and bottom bouncers.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good walleye success working a variety of presentations.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Work 15 to 24 feet around Grahams Island for walleye, with improving success around the Golden Highway, using spinners and nightcrawlers or leeches. Also try crankbaits in 13 to 14 feet.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Most anglers continue heading to Devils Lake and finding nice walleye success. Limited reports from area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Some activity continues throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Hehn-Schafer, Jamestown Reservoir, and Lake Ashtabula continue producing walleye.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Good bluegill success with several nice-sized fish showing up. Look for smallmouth bass, pike, and crappie activity, as well. Work the edges of the weeds and break lines, casting Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers or slip bobbers and leeches for walleye.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Fair to good panfish activity with good numbers of anglers on the water. Not many walleye reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fair for walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea around Deepwater or Douglas bays using jumbo leeches or nightcrawlers in 17 to 30 feet. Lake Audubon fair for small walleye, with an occasional nice-sized one mixed in.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Improving walleye success.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Continued success for small walleye in the spillway channel on the Missouri River tailrace. Good catfish numbers in the river. Look for any slack water. Chutes fair for walleye, but limited trout or salmon success. Try morning or evening from boats using 3-way swivels or from shore off the rocks. Lake Sakakawea fair for walleye on the east end in a variety of depths. Try a variety of presentations, bait, and depths from shallow out to 15 feet. A few salmon starting to show up in 50 to 80 feet with white flashers and squids or herring. Continued good pike success with active bass.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Generally consistent, fair success throughout most area lakes with some nice opportunities to catch fish.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Fair to good crappie success at times.

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

*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Limited reports.

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.

N.D. rivers, river stage and streamflow:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 0.88 foot; streamflow, 0.27 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 1.27 feet; streamflow, 22.5 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 15.7 feet; streamflow, 1,170 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.72 feet; streamflow, 146 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 and Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

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