Dakota Recreation Report: July 17, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*N.D. Dept. of Environmental Quality blue-green algae reports: Low toxin levels – Black Tiger Bay (Devils Lake), Benson Co .; Clausen Springs, Barnes Co .; Crystal Springs, Kidder and Stutsman counties; East Stump Lake, Nelson Co .; Heckers Lake, Sheridan Co .; Horsehead Lake, Kidder Co .; Jamestown Reservoir, Stutsman Co .; Lake Josephine, Kidder Co .; Moon Lake, Barnes Co .; Pipestem Reservoir, Stutsman Co .; Reule Lake, Stutsman Co. Advisory – Alkali Lake, Stutsman Co .; Harvey Dam, Wells Co. Go to the agency website, (deq.nd.gov) for more information and safety precautions.

*July 21 – 29: N.D. State Fair, Minot.

*July 21: McVille Canoe Races, McVille Dam, 7 p.m.

*July 23: Agassiz 4 Curls Delta Waterfowl banquet, West Fargo, Red River Valley Fairgrounds, Hartl Bldg., 5 p.m.

*July 25: Women’s Shooting Clinic, Capital City Sporting Clays, Bismarck, 8:30 p.m.

Tournaments:

*July 15: Devils Lake, Hay Bale Heights Ramp.

*July 21-22: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

*July 22: Devils Lake, Creel Bay; Lake Sakakawea, Wolf Creek.

*July 26: Red River, North Forks Landing.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, July 11: 1,450.35 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,450.38 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,841.31 MSL; 21,500 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 area lakes. East end of Lake Sakakawea becoming more inconsistent with walleye moving into deeper water and anglers working to find depths as they transition.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: East Bay fair for small walleye but a little less consistent. Fair to good success remains along the south side, including Fort Totten area.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good for walleye throughout much of Devils Lake, including the Minnewaukan Flats and Pelican Lake.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Try bottom bouncers and spinners with nightcrawlers trolling in 18 to 24 feet for walleye with continued fair to good success throughout the lake.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: A few anglers on local lakes but most activity remains on Devils Lake using nightcrawlers for continued good walleye success.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Not many reports from area lakes with a lot of anglers going to Devils Lake for walleye.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Jamestown and Pipestem reservoirs producing a mix of walleye and crappie using a variety of presentations.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Continued fair to good success with some perch now running in the keeper size. Look for a nice mix of crappie and bluegill in the shallows.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Work a variety of depths with fish moving around on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Move around and try a variety of presentations.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Steady walleye success with best activity in the morning. Work a variety of depths along the north shore using slow death hooks and heavy bottom bouncers with leeches. Bite Me tournament applications now available online at (www.fishindianhills.com).

*Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Walleye activity slowed on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with better success working deeper water down to 30 feet. Anglers still finding nice walleye numbers farther west earlier in the week, including Deepwater Bay, in 10 to 14 feet. No Lake Audubon reports.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace fair to good from boats during the day working the spillway channel. Lots of small walleye with some catfish mixed in. Also try crankbaits off the rocks at night but slower from shore during the day. East end of Lake Sakakawea fair for walleye but inconsistent. Move around and work a variety of depths starting around 25 feet with plastics or nightcrawlers and bottom bouncers. Some three-to-five pound salmon taken when walleye fishing.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Area lakes producing good numbers of fish, including Stober, Hinsz, west side of Goose Lake, and Tuffy Lake.

N.D. river flows:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 2.11 feet; streamflow, 22.1 CFS.

*Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Creek elevation, 5.53 feet; streamflow, 62.2 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 16.93 feet; streamflow, 3,100 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.86 feet; streamflow, 248 CFS.

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.