Dakota Recreation Report: August 2, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*N.D. Dept. of Environmental Quality blue-green algae reports: Advisories – Alkali, Antelope, Buffalo, Buffalo Lodge, Coal Mine, and Frettim lakes, South Hoffer, and Jamestown and Pipestem reservoirs.

*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).

*Aug. 4: Pronghorn applications due. Go to the N.D. Game and Fish Dept., (gf.nd.gov), for applications and information.

*Aug. 4: Wild Outdoor Women registration opens with activities at Lake Metigoshe State Park Sept. 10 -12. Go to the N.D. Parks and Recreation Dept. website, (parkrec.nd.gov) for information.

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

Tournaments:

*Aug. 7 & 8: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

*Aug. 7: Devils Lake, Minnewaukan.

*Aug. 14: Devils Lake, Lakewood.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, July 27: 1,447.53 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,447.56 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,835.13 MSL; 22,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from Devils Lake or east-central area lakes. Better walleye success on Lake Sakakawea is around the midsection from Pouch Point working west with generally fair to good success in the Van Hook Arm.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued fair for walleye. Try spinners and nightcrawlers in 19 to 20 feet.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good for walleye. Try slip bobbers or spinners and bottom bouncers in 12 to 20 feet. Also try crankbaits. Pelican Lake seems to be producing larger fish.

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

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Good numbers of small walleye using spinners and bottom bouncers. Work deeper water for larger fish. Try along any of the bridges in the evening vertical jigging or Lindy rigs for walleye.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Reports remain limited across area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued fair success on area lakes, although several lakes have algal blooms, including blue-green algae advisories. Foot, Toe, Hehn-Schafer, Heinrich-Martin lakes area seeing the most activity with nightcrawlers, with leeches out of season.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Activity slowed but look for some walleye along the breaks yet. Try slip bobbers in areas with structure like the islands by Cooter Bay. Work deep for crappie with small Rapalas or 3-foot lead and bottom bouncers.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Hot weather slowing fishing activity.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fair to good walleye success on the east end with better activity in the morning due to hot weather. Lots of small fish so sort through for any keepers. Continue working points using a variety of presentations with nightcrawlers. Leech season is over. No reports from Lake Audubon.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Fair to good for walleye. Move around working the humps in 15 to 25 feet with nightcrawlers with leeches, if available, for walleye.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace continues producing catfish in the spillway channel and tailrace itself. Good numbers of small walleye from the spillway channel. Bigger walleye coming at night in the chutes using 3-way swivels. Overall success is inconsistent, however. East end of Lake Sakakawea inconsistent for walleye with depths varying from 5 to 35 feet. Try jigging Raps in deeper water or nightcrawlers in the shallows. Better success is west around Douglas Bay along the north shore or Silo Bay and 3 bays west on the south shore. A few salmon coming from Government Bay to Deadman’s Bay in 50 to 80 feet over deeper water. Try flashers with squids or herring. Not many salmon anglers, however, but generally they’re getting a few fish with most in the five pound range. Some up to 13 pounds.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Continued walleye success across 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.