Jamestown Sun
Dakota Recreation Report
Sept. 3 2010
Patricia Stockdill
Outdoor Notes:
Today: Archery deer season opens.
Today: Mountain lion season opens.
Sept. 15: Remainder of the early Canada goose season closes.
Sept. 17: Youth deer gun season opens.
Sept. 18: Sandhill crane, woodcock, & snipe season opens.
Sept. 18 & 19: Youth waterfowl season opens.
Tournaments:
Sept. 11: Lake Sakakawea, Dakota Waters Resort; Missouri River, Graner’s Bottoms.
Sept. 18: Lake Oahe, Prairie Knights Marina.
Fishing:
Devils Lake elevation, Sept. 1: 1,451.55 feet above mean sea level (msl).
Stump Lake elevation, Sept. 1: 1,451.46 msl.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, Sept. 1: 1,850.2 msl; 25,000 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. Game Wardens: No reports from Devils Lake. Fall catfish bite starting on the Red River farther north in the Grand Forks area. Try working along cut banks with fast moving current or out in smaller holes and mid-river structure near faster water. Move around with fish on the move looking for food. Lake Sakakawea slow for walleye but try downriggers for salmon with some anglers finding fair success. A few walleye from the Missouri River at night from the wing walls.
Devils Lake, C&M Bait, Black Tiger Bay, Devils Lake: Walleye success slowed somewhat but continued small walleye activity with some bigger fish starting to show up. Work the weed edges with Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers or deeper with jigs.
Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Weather fronts slowed activity and success earlier in the week. Those going out generally used spinners and bottom bouncers in 12 to 20 feet along the Minnewaukan Flat or East Bay. Also try crankbaits in the weed beds.
Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Continued fair for walleye working the weeds and underwater humps with small walleye scattered throughout most of the lake. Some nice-sized northern pike showing up.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Angling activity is slowing but those going out continued finding fair to good small walleye success. Try spinners and bottom bouncers. Look for water to cool soon and then a switch to jigging around rock piles.
Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Spotty for walleye with occasional nice crappie showing up.
Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Continued fair for small walleye with occasional keeper mixed in. Try spinners and nightcrawlers.
Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Walleye bite slowed somewhat but some nice-sized northern pike are starting to show up. Panfish success remains good, a nice mix of perch, crappie, and bass.
Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fewer anglers on the water with limited reports from Lake Sakakawea.
Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Continued fair for walleye working deep using Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers. Try at least 25 to 30 feet.
Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Lake Sakakawea fair with scattered success. Those getting limits are working hard using a variety of techniques. Try long Lindy rigs in 20 to 30 feet. Some walleye also shallow in the trees. Try weedless hooks. Most fish seem concentrated around Mallard Island, 7 Sisters or Steinke Bay. Salmon slow but most activity is in 65 to 70 feet working that depth down to 120 feet. Try flashers and squids or herring. Missouri River is OK but best success seems to be in the morning. Also try the chutes. Some success from shore at night from the rocks. Look for improving success with increased Garrison Dam releases.
Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: Lake Sakakawea slow for salmon but producing occasional bursts of success. Try flashers or squids. Those taken are nice-sized. Look for longlinging success to start soon. Most activity on the Missouri River is farther south on Lake Oahe although increasing activity at the Heskett Plant in the evening. Try crankbaits. Tailrace slow.
Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fair for crappie using spinners and nightcrawlers.
Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Slow to fair at best for crappie.
Red River, Riverkeepers, Fargo: Lots of activity remains on the Red River in Fargo-Moorhead but catfish success slowed. Ramps in good condition with work continuing on the North Dam upgrades.
Spiritwood Lake, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Not many reports.
Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Continued fair bass success.
Hunting:
Archery deer: Reminder that hunters must be in the process of leaving an area at the end of legal shooting hours and can’t be in a stand or blind after legal shooting hours. Identification must be on blinds or stands on N.D. Game & Fish Wildlife Management Areas.
Doves: Birds starting to bunch up in the southeast but remain plentiful.
Early Canada goose season: Fair to good success in the southeast.
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: getting outside, outdoors, hunting, fishing, recreation
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