Dakota Recreation Report: Oct. 11, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*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.

*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. 15: Devils Lake Ducks Unlimited banquet, KC Club, 5:30 p.m.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Oct. 5: 1,447.04 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,446.94 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,831.11 MSL; 13,900 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from east-central area lakes or Devils Lake. New Town area remains fair to good at times for walleye with Van Hook Arm slower on the midsection of Lake Sakakawea. No reports from the east end.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: East Bay producing nice white bass and perch using Haley’s jigs with minnows or nightcrawlers. Try Pelican Lake or main Devils Lake around Cactus Point.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Overall fair to good walleye success. Work shallow for larger fish.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Lots of small walleye so sort through for the keepers. Try jigs with better fish along deep rock piles or the bridges. Smaller fish coming when trolling.

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

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: Limited activity throughout area lakes, although anglers going to Jamestown Reservoir are still finding occasional success.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited activity on area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: No new reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Some activity around Ashtabula Crossing, but generally quiet throughout much of the rest of the lake.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Garrison: Try the mouth of Garrison or Douglas bays and deTrobriand Island for walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea in 17 to 25 feet for walleye. Move around with scattered success. Not many anglers on the water.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains low with slower Garrison Dam releases. Best success is for catfish from shore or boats with better activity early morning from shore. Lake Sakakawea producing some salmon along Government Bay. Try crankbaits, spoons, or Musky Jerks from shore. Fish should start migrating to the west end of the dam soon. Limited walleye numbers. Work deep for walleye on the east end, but overall success is slow. Use caution launching on Lake Audubon as well as moving around on the lake with low water levels. Access only available at the East Totten Boat ramp. Fair walleye success, however, but be careful.

Hunting:

*Grouse: Some pockets of birds in areas scattered around west-central N.D.

*Pheasant: Not all birds are fully colored yet so watch species identification.

*Waterfowl: A few local ducks and geese along the east and west ends of Lake Sakakawea. Some local geese along the midsection. In generals, birds concentrating on larger wetlands and lakes. Mixed success around the Devils Lake area for local birds, but warm weather isn’t moving any migrants down. Lots of opening weekend activity in areas of east-central N.D. where there are available wetlands with local ducks. North-central N.D. activity also limited to pockets of available wetlands and local birds. Nice numbers of local mallards around Williston area.

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.