Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Dakota Recreation Report: Sept. 27, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*Be aware of proper waterfowl identification with most ducks not in full fall plumage yet.

*HIP registration and Federal Waterfowl Duck Stamp required for waterfowl hunting.

*Go to the N.D. Game and Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov) for information regarding North Dakota’s new electronic posting regulations and assistance.

*East Totten Recreation Area boat ramp is the only available ramp on Lake Audubon during a lake draw-down to allow for facility maintenance work along the U.S. Highway 83 embankment.

*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.

*Oct. 1: James Valley Pheasants Forever banquet, Club 1883, Jamestown, 5 p.m.

*Oct. 2 and 3: Youth pheasant season.

*Oct. 2: Tundra swan season opens.

*Oct. 2: Nonresident waterfowl season opens.

*Oct. 9: Pheasant and turkey seasons open.

Tournaments:

*Oct. 1 and 2: Lake Sakakawea, Sakakawea State Park.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Sept. 21: 1,447.09 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,447.07 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,831.55 MSL; 13,700 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

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

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Fair to good white bass and perch success in East Bay. Pelican Lake remains fair for walleye. Overall fewer anglers on the water.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued walleye activity but they’re heavily relating to structure. Start shallow and work out deeper as water warms up. Try switching to a slower presentation, including slip bobbers.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Anglers finding lots of small walleye with a transition to jigs and minnows. Also try crankbaits in deeper water. Work along the highways or power lines in the middle of the lake. Also try Mauvais Coulee.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Area lakes generally quiet.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Little activity throughout area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Some anglers still on the water with some perch success, a few walleye, and a mix of nice pike.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Occasional nice-sized pike with a few walleye mixed in. Bass activity slowed, but a few more perch showing up.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Garrison: Not many anglers out although there is still a little activity along the west end of Lake Audubon along the U.S. Highway 83 embankment with water being transferred into Lake Sakakawea. Work deeper on the east end of Lake Sakakawea in 30 to 40 feet for walleye with slowing success. Better success remains west from Deepwater Bay to Independence Point with some activity on the east end along the embankment where water is going through the intake from Lake Audubon. No new Missouri River reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: No new reports. General store closed for the season, but camping and lodging available until mid-October.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace water levels low with less Garrison Dam releases, which have slowed walleye, trout, and salmon activity. Good catfish numbers, however. Use caution when fishing the tailrace rocks from shore because they’re extremely slippery. Some success at night for walleye from boats but day bite is generally producing catfish. Also try the wing walls for catfish. Lake Sakakawea producing salmon from the top of the water all of the way down with fish scattered throughout much of the water column. Try crankbaits or even flashers and squids from boats or spoons from shore in the bays. Continue working deep for walleye using nightcrawlers with better success farther west of Pick City.

Hunting:

*Doves: Many birds moved out with cool night temperatures, but a few remain scattered in areas.

*Deer: Fair archery success. Some are still active during the day, but trending towards more nocturnal movement. Nice numbers around central N.D.

*Upland: Grouse seem to be in pockets scattered in areas with cover. A few hunters around central N.D. with mixed success.

*Waterfowl: Nice numbers of local Canada geese with fair duck numbers around Devils Lake. East end of the Missouri River System and northcentral N.D. have good local Canada goose numbers. Not many local geese around the Lonetree WMA area, though, with just a few scattered flocks. Ducks will be concentrated on what limited wetlands are available.

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: (701) 328-9921.