Dakota Recreation Report: July 26, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*Dept. of Environmental Quality blue-green algae reports: Lakes with advisories include Alkali, Antelope, Buffalo, Buffalo Lodge, Coal Mine, Frettim, and Spiritwood lakes, Jamestown and Pipestem reservoirs, and South Hoffer.

*July 28: First-come, first-served deer licenses available. Go to the N.D. Game and Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov) for details.

*Aug. 4: Pronghorn applications due.

*Aug. 4: Wild Outdoor Women workshop registration opens, noon (closes Aug. 25). Contact Lake Metigoshe State Park for details. Event is Sept. 10 – 12.

*Aug. 8 – 12: Devils Lake Kids Fishing Camp. Contact Devils Lake Park Board, ([email protected]) or telephone (701) 662-8243 for details and registration.

*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. 1 deadline. Contact N.D. Game and Fish Dept. conservation biologist, Patrick Isakson, [email protected]) for details.

*Check local fire restrictions when camping, etc.

*Camping reservations required at N.D. State Parks and are available online at the website, (parkrec.nd.gov).

Tournaments:

*July 30 & 31: Devils Lake, Woodland Resort.

*July 31: New Johns Lake.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, July 20: 1,447.64 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,447.77 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,835.59 MSL; 22,300 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: Continued fair to good for walleye, including East Bay.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued good for walleye using a variety of presentations throughout much of the lake.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good for walleye, but use caution in some areas with shallower water and exposed structures.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good for walleye using spinners and bottom bouncers, or slip bobbers with nightcrawlers or leeches. Try 10 to 25 feet. Also try vertical jigging along the bridges. Good numbers from the west end, including Golden Highway or Pelican Lake. Work shorelines for pike pitching plastics or crankbaits. White bass mixed in with the walleye.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Not much fishing activity with the hot weather.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Activity slowed on area lakes. Leeches becoming unavailable.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Trautman, Toe, Fox, Foot, Alkali, Alkaline, Barnes lakes and Mallard Marsh continue producing some walleye activity with some pike mixed in yet. Try jigs with nightcrawlers or plastics in deep water. Clausen Springs producing smallmouth bass.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Work just above the weeds along the breaks for walleye in deep water, with Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers or leeches, if available. Water temperatures warming. Locate deep holes in 25 to 35 feet for crappie. Continued bluegill success.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Continued fair for a mix of panfish with occasional walleye.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fair small walleye success with most fish in the 16-inch range on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Lake Audubon remains fair for walleye.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Fair to good walleye success. Work shallow, windy shorelines with nightcrawlers. Some nice-sized fish showing up.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow, with better success in the spillway channel, but fish are small. Try jigs or Lindy rigs with nightcrawlers. Some walleye activity off the rocks from shore at night but that also slowed. Move around on the east end of Lake Sakakawea for walleye with better success around 5 Fingers, Steinke, or Douglas bays. Work 6 to 32 feet with bigger fish shallower at times. Depth varies with heat, wind, and time of day. Try 50 to 80 feet with flashers and squids or herring for salmon. Nice numbers of five-pound fish, although not much fishing pressure yet.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Continued fair to good success throughout most area lakes.

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.