Dakota Recreation Report: April 18, 2022

Outdoor notes:

*People are asked to report any dead birds and abnormal behavior in migrating birds, especially waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors, to the N.D. Game and Fish Dept. on their wildlife mortality reporting form, (gf.nd.gov/wildlife/diseases/mortality-report), due to a national outbreak of highly contagious avian influenza. It can also impact domestic poultry. While rarely infectious to humans, hunters or anyone handling poultry should use precautions, such as avoiding handling sick animals, wear gloves when dressing birds, wash hands and equipment thoroughly, and cook meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, April 12: 1,447.79 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,447.52 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,827.6 MSL; 14,500 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from east-central area lakes or Devils Lake. North Arm of Lake Audubon open with some boat and shore activity, weather permitting. Anglers can access small boats along the county road embankment on Lake Audubon, as well. Overall success slow yet, however, and beware of shifting ice.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: No reports.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: No new reports.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: No activity after recent weather front moved through.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Open water shorelines on Devils Lake with much of the lake losing ice. Try casting plastics from shore and around any of the bridges for a mix of walleye and pike.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: No new reports.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: No activity although area lakes have open water.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No new reports with limited activity after storm.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: The lake is open with some shore-fishing activity, weather permitting.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No new reports although the lake is open.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Spotty walleye success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea prior to the weather change with a few pike and catfish mixed in. Boat can access from several bays but beware of shifting ice packs. Try smelt or minnows from shore or jigs and minnows from boats. Some small boat activity on the east end of Lake Audubon around the county road crossing but watch shifting ice, as well, with activity also on North Lake of Audubon. No reports on success, however. Missouri River tailrace spotty and inconsistent.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Open water in bays on the east of Lake Sakakawea including Steinke, Centennial, and Douglas bays but wind will dictate access with shifting ice. Use caution in areas with moving ice in any of the bays. Some pike success from shore. North Lake of Lake Audubon has some boat and shore activity but no reports on success.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace producing pike from shore with a few walleye mixed in. Wing walls remain slow with occasional fish. Some walleye success down river using jigs and minnows. Try floating jigs down river for trout. Best time to fish the chutes is at night with 3-way swivels with white plastics. East end of Lake Sakakawea producing pike along open water back bays, but watch for floating ice. Try smelt or herring with slower success casting yet.

Turkey hunting:

*Birds active and strutting opening weekend but weather could change activity.

Migration:

*Snow geese still moving through north-central N.D. with a few in the northwest yet prior to the weather change.

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 & Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

*Report All Poachers: (701) 328-9921.