Jamestown Sun
Dakota Recreation Report
May 21, 2010
Patricia Stockdill
Outdoor Notes:
Paddlefish season now closed.
Sat. & Sun.: Sully’s Hill Nat’l. Game Preserve Warbler Weekend.
May 31: Memorial Day.
June 2: Deer gun and muzzleloader licenses due.
June 5 & 6: Free Fishing Weekend.
Tournaments:
Saturday: Missouri River; Lake Oahe, Prairie Knights.
Sat. & Sun.: Jamestown Reservoir.
May 30: Lake Sakakawea, Government Bay.
Fishing:
Devils Lake elevation, May 19: 1,451.63 feet above mean sea level (msl).
Stump Lake elevation, May 19: 1,451.38 msl.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, May 19: 1,839.4 msl; 16,000 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. Game Wardens: Recent rains caused the Red and Sheyenne rivers to rise. Some ramps unusable from Wahpeton to Fargo so check ahead to find out if access is available. Rising waters making main channel fishing difficult and slow from boat. Shore-fishing is muddy and slow. Light reports from area reservoirs with little activity. Devils Lake slow. Lake Sakakawea slow on the east end with a few reports of better success in the midsection. Lake Audubon producing a few walleye with some northern pike and smallmouth bass mixed in. Missouri River fair around Washburn and Stanton with lots of anglers in the area. Remember to have the right number of lifejackets in the boat.
Alkaline Lake, Tappen: Look for northern pike activity.
Coal Mine Lake, Anamoose: Little activity.
Devils Lake, C&M Bait, Black Tiger Bay, Devils Lake: Road work continues and access is available. Somewhat improving walleye success. Work shallow, warmer water on the south end of Black Tiger Bay.
Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Improving walleye and northern pike success. Try Pelican Lake for walleye pitching crankbaits. Also try the flats, bridges or Creel Bay. Work shallow water later in the afternoon and evening when water temperatures are warmer. Also try slip bobbers in the trees in the morning.
Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Improving walleye and northern pike success. Work shallow, warm water pitching crankbaits in the back bays.
Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Improving walleye success.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Improving walleye success with better weather and warming water temperatures. Try 2 to 6 feet in the back bays along the shorelines in newly flooded vegetation. Try pitching crankbaits. Some northern pike mixed in.
Goose Lake, Harvey: Little activity.
Harvey Dam, Harvey: Generally slow with few anglers on the lake.
Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Increasing activity with fair walleye success.
Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Lots of activity on the lake with mixed success, although overall anglers are finding some walleye.
Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Fishing is just starting to gradually improve. Fair for smallmouth bass with occasional walleye and a few perch mixed in. No northern pike reports. Look for improving success with continued warming weather.
Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Lake Audubon producing some northern pike and smallmouth bass with a few walleye mixed in. A few more anglers on Lake Sakakawea with a little walleye success. However, success is still light with cool water temperatures. Missouri River remains fair for walleye down river from the tailrace.
Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Not many reports from Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon with limited activity. Missouri River fair from shore at night from the rocks. Wing walls remain slow. Walleye activity remains fair own river using Gulp or live bait. Anglers getting fish but definitely working for them.
Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.
Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Increasing activity.
Red River, Riverkeepers, Fargo: Water levels remain high on the Red River, which is slowing activity. Those going are finding mixed results. Most ramps open and usable.
Spiritwood Lake, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.
Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: More anglers on the water but no reports on success.
Devils Lake ramps, May 19:
Usable: Minnewaukan dump grounds, east and northwest ramps; Schwab ramp, east and west lanes, Grahams Island State Park west ramp, east and west lanes; Schaffer’s Area, east and west ramps, Spirit Lake Casino.
Black Tiger Bay: Usable but public asked to stay away until road work is complete.
Henegar Ramp: Usable but will be in question if work starts on raising the dike.
N.D. River Report, May 19:
Baldhill Creek, Dazey: Streamflow, 44 cfs; river stage, 6.78 feet.
James River, Grace City: Streamflow, 202 cfs; river stage, 6.07 feet.
James River, Jamestown: Streamflow, 1,260 cfs; river stage, 9.44 feet.
Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 9.5 feet.
Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Streamflow, 75 cfs; river stage, 5.65 feet.
Red River, Hickson: Streamflow, 2,350 cfs; river stage, 16 feet.
Numbers to know:
N.D. Game & Fish Department, main Bismarck office: 328-6300; Web site: (http://gf.nd.gov).
N.D. Game & Fish Department, Jamestown office: 253-6480.
RAP, Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121.
Tags: outdoors, recreation, rec, sports
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