Dakota Recreation Report: August 14, 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 & Stutsman counties; East Stump Lake, Nelson Co .; Heckers Lake, Sheridan Co .; Horsehead Lake, Kidder Co .; Lake Josephine, Kidder Co .; Moon Lake, Barnes Co .; Pipestem Reservoir, Stutsman Co .; Reule Lake, Stutsman Co .; South Hoffer Lake, Sheridan Co .; Spiritwood Lake, Stutsman Co. Advisory – Alkali Lake, Stutsman Co .; Harvey Dam, Wells Co .; Jamestown Reservoir, Stutsman Co. Go to the agency website, (deq.nd.gov) for more information and safety precautions.

*Fish don’t survive when coming up from 25 feet and deeper and the N.D. Game and Fish Dept. advises anglers keep those fish.

*Registration now open for Wild Outdoor Women (WOW), Lake Metigoshe State Park. Go to, (https://www.parkrec.nd.gov/events/fall-wild-outdoor-women-wow) for details and to register.

*Aug. 16: Tundra swan applications due.

*Aug. 19: Pipestem Creek Trail Run, Jamestown, 8 a.m.

*Aug. 19: Gear Grinder Mtn. Bike Race, Pipestem Creek Trail, Jamestown, 6 p.m.

*Aug. 24: Grand Forks Ducks Unlimited event, Grand Forks Alerus Center, 5:30 p.m.

Tournaments:

*Aug. 19: Lake Sakakawea, Sakakawea State Park.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Aug. 8: 1,449.96 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.97 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,842.42 MSL; 22,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake remains fair for walleye but not as steady as earlier this summer. The key is working deeper water but remember to keep those fish when brought up from 20 feet and deeper. Larger fish now starting to come in. Area lakes remain quiet. No Missouri River System reports.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued nice walleye success with lots of anglers on the water. Try Bud Bay or south side of Camp Grafton working deep water in 25 to 30 feet. Lots of small walleye throughout the lake.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued small walleye success. Most activity is with bottom bouncers in about 20 feet but try working the shallows with crankbaits, as well.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Continued good walleye activity. Try along the Minnewaukan Flats and Pelican Lake.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Try Military Point, Concrete Bay or Walford’s Bay using spinners and bottom bouncers in 20 to 30 feet with half a nightcrawler for walleye.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Most area anglers continue going to Devils Lake and finding fair to good walleye success.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: No new reports.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir continues producing a nice mix of walleye, crappie and panfish. Improving success on Spiritwood Lake with fair success on Pipestem Reservoir.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: No new reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Lake Ashtabula water quality remains good. Continued fair success with nice perch population.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Work deep water in 20 to 50 feet from Garrison Bay to the west using crankbaits or heavy bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers for walleye.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: South side of the lake producing walleye in 30 to 50 feet using lead-core.

*Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Work main lake points or sunken humps on the east end of Lake Sakakawea in 25 to 40 feet with Lindy rigs and bottom bouncers and minnows or nightcrawlers. Best success along Mallard Island west to Pick City and Hazen Bay. Lake Audubon producing some walleye in 25 to 30 feet using spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers. Good smallmouth bass activity with top water baits in 2 to 12 feet.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace starting to produce some catfish and walleye from the wing walls. River itself below the tailrace remains slow during the day with small walleye in the spillway channel. The night bite using 3-way swivels is producing larger fish. East end of Lake Sakakawea producing some walleye success throughout a variety of depths but best bite is coming from 30 feet and deeper. Remember to keep fish taken in deep water. Some salmon success on the east side of the dam around Government and Pochant bays in 75 to 85 feet over 150 water.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Area lakes slow with several becoming weedy.

N.D. river flows:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 1.29 feet; streamflow, 0.81 CFS.

*Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Creek elevation, 5.39 feet; streamflow, 40.1 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 16.42 feet; streamflow, 2,200 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 3.69 feet; streamflow, 200 CFS.

Numbers to know:

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, main Bismarck office: (701) 328-6300, website: (http://gf.nd.gov).

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