Dakota Recreation Report: Oct. 31, 2022

Outdoor notes:

*Reminder that most roads and trails closed to hunting if posted on both sides.

*Check all PLOTS signage before driving on with vehicles when waterfowl hunting to ensure landowner allows vehicles.

*Hunters reminded to put identification on tree stands and blinds when set up on N.D. Game & Fish Dept. WMAs.

*Waterfowl hunters reminded to follow ANS regulations when hunting from boats.

*Nov. 3: Elk unit E6 closes.

*Nov. 4: Deer gun season opens.

*Nov. 7: Fall crow season closes.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Oct. 25: 1,449.3 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.36 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,833.54 MSL; 14,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Decent walleye activity working wind-blown shorelines along Devils Lake. No other area reports.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Weather permitting some late season walleye success working any of the bridges. Try jigging. Some larger fish showing up with crankbaits.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Weather permitting, anglers continue finding walleye success. Try jigging around the bridges.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: No new reports.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Little activity with weather front moving through and anglers waiting for the transition to ice fishing.

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

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Little activity with no reports.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Not much activity throughout area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Try Ashtabula Crossing for an occasional nice-sized walleye with minnows

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No new reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Some continued walleye activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea prior to the weather change but little activity since then.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: East end of Lake Sakakawea producing walleye in Douglas Bay prior to the weather change and wind. Try vertical jigging with minnows in 25 to 30 feet. No reports from Lake Audubon.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow although some continued catfish success with limited angler numbers. East end of Lake Sakakawea producing scattered walleye activity but limited anglers. Better success remains west around Beaver or Beulah bays. Fewer salmon anglers, as well.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No activity on area lakes.

Hunting:

*Pheasants: Generally fair to good success but some areas spotty and better than others with increasing pressure in many areas.

*Waterfowl: Pockets of waterfowl across east-central N.D. but hunting pressure moved many local birds out. Look for increasing bird movement with recent weather front. Continued fair to good waterfowl success around the Devils Lake area with snow geese moving into northeast N.D. Not much movement yet south of Garrison Dam along the river but good snow goose numbers along areas east of the Missouri River System and central N.D. as well as northern McLean County and southern Ward County. Nice duck numbers, as well. Fair duck numbers in north-central N.D.

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.