Dakota Recreation Report: September 18, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*Sept. 21: Valley City Ducks Unlimited Hunter’s Party, Valley City Eagles Club, 5:30 p.m.

*Sept. 22: Eastern Zone Early Canada Goose closes.

*Sept. 23: Resident waterfowl season opens.

*Sept. 24: Youth deer season closes.

*Sept. 30: Nonresident waterfowl season opens.

*Sept. 30: Flannel Fest, Lewis & Clark State Park.

*Sept. 30 & Oct. 1: Youth pheasant season.

Tournaments:

*Sept. 23: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Sept. 12: 1,449.56 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.57 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,840.61 MSL; 22,200 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No Devils Lake or Lake Sakakawea reports. East-central area lakes remain slow.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued fair for small walleye with some nice fish on the chain of lakes, including Mike’s Lake or Lake Irvine. Try shallower water for larger fish with Jigging Raps on the main lake.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Continued fair to good success for small walleye but anglers still working hard for larger fish.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair walleye success in 20 to 30 feet.

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

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Limited reports with area lakes generally quiet.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Spiritwood Lake producing some bass activity. Try the east side along the rocks. Jamestown Reservoir producing a mix of perch, walleye and crappie. Work deeper for pike in the reservoir as well as the river.

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

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Continued fair success for a mix of crappie, bluegill and perch.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Limited activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Continue working deep around Garrison and Douglas bays. No Lake Audubon reports.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Slow but steady walleye activity. Work 30 to 50 feet with nightcrawlers. Limited minnow and Jigging Rap activity. Bait shop closed for the season but campground remains open.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Work the Highway 83 islands and around Mallard Island on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with a switch to minnows in 35 to 40 feet for walleye. Continued smallmouth bass and muskie success with some pike mixed in on Lake Audubon. Remember to release all muskie less than 48 inches.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow with a few catfish and walleye in the spillway channel from boats. Try jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers. Try crankbaits in the main river. Limited salmon and trout activity. Shore-fishing slow during the day with better success at night. Occasional success from the wing walls during the day. East end of Lake Sakakawea producing a few walleye off the points in 40 to 50 feet using spinners or slow death hooks and minnows. Some fish are shallower but seem less active. Try Steinke, Douglas or Government bays and around Alcatraz. Work around the thermocline in 75 feet and deeper for salmon on the east end. Try shallower before sunrise with crankbaits or a variety of presentations later in the day. Spawning salmon should be moving in. Salmon are still running in the 3- to 5-pound range.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Limited activity throughout area lakes.

Hunting:

*Deer: Look for a little more movement with cooler weather.

*Doves: Birds bunching more with cooler weather with fair numbers yet.

*Upland: Hunters finding nice partridge numbers with fair grouse numbers in pockets but not much hunting activity.

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.