Jamestown Sun
Dakota Recreation Report
Nov. 5, 2010
Patricia Stockdill
Outdoor Notes:
Today: Deer gun season opens.
Saturday: Bobcat hunting season opens.
Nov. 14: Unit 1 sandhill crane season closes.
Fishing:
Devils Lake elevation, Nov. 3: 1,451.37 feet above mean sea level (msl).
Stump Lake elevation, Nov. 3: 1,451.54 msl.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, Nov. 3: 1,845.3 msl; 30,000 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. Game Wardens: Red River remains high. Small southeastern reservoirs quiet but those going could still find a fall feeding effort underway for walleye and northern pike. No reports from Lake Sakakawea, Lake Audubon or the Missouri River.
Coal Mine Lake, Anamoose: Northern pike fair.
Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Not many anglers on the water but those working the bridges in the morning and evening with jigs and minnows are finding fair walleye success. Also try deeper rock piles around Rocky Point, the towers, Bird Island, Military Point, and other deeper areas. Some success pitching crankbaits along the weed beds in 4 to 10 feet. Pelican Lake good for walleye using jigs with minnows or trolling crankbaits.
Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Continued walleye success but limited angler numbers.
Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Limited activity.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Not much activity but those going are still finding good walleye success.
Goose Lake, Harvey: Northern pike good but slow for other species.
Harvey Dam, Harvey: Slow.
Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Not many angles but those going are still finding a few walleye.
Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: A few anglers on the reservoir but not many reports. Missouri River fall bite looks to be underway.
Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Little activity.
Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: No activity.
Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Little activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with elusive fall walleye bite so far. Missouri River continues to be OK from the boat during the day using live bait down river. Still not a full fall walleye bite yet, though. Occasional trout and salmon. Continued fair walleye success in the morning and evening casting Husky Jerks from the rocks.
Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: Walleye activity on the Missouri River in the Bismarck-Mandan area working from the Rifle Range up to Bismarck with fish moving north. Some activity yet farther south at Hazelton but better success has moved closer to Bismarck.
Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Little activity.
Red River, Riverkeepers, Fargo: Ramps are open and in good condition, although docks are being removed for the season. Water levels remain high for this time of year. Walleye fishing remains strong.
Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Not much activity.
Hunting & Migration:
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Game wardens: Most local eastern and southeastern ducks moved out in - if not before — last week’s storm but some migrants moved in to help fill the void. No real excessive staging but the line from Dickey County to Ransom and up to Traill and Griggs counties found huntable duck numbers with snow geese, as well. Scouting is key because the birds are moving quite a bit. Improving southeastern pheasant success with more row crop harvest completed. Roads wet early in the week from the rain and snow, however. Last week’s weather brought an influx of waterfowl around the east end of Lake Sakakawea but conditions could change with nicer weather. Good numbers of upland birds remain in the north-central part of the state. Storm froze small wetlands over in north-central N.D. so ducks are concentrated on bigger water. Still good duck numbers, though. Many of the geese moved out from there, too, in the bad weather.
Lonetree WMA, Harvey: There was a mass migration of waterfowl in central N.D. in last week’s storm so numbers remain low. Fair upland success with standing row crops yet.
Arrowwood Nat’l. Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Pingree: Last week’s storm moved lots of snow geese into the area. Many flocks of 100 to 200 birds are feeding throughout much of the region, joining with other flocks to feed. Larger groups of both mallards and divers came through early in the week. Most wetlands froze during the storm and still retained a cover of ice early in the week. A few cranes continue hanging around the refuge. Waterfowl numbers seem to have increased to mid-October levels for geese and mallards on the refuge. Overall duck numbers are down because shovelers and ruddy ducks have decreased significantly. Big numbers of snow geese south of N.D. Highway 46.
J. Clark Salyer NWR, Upham: Waterfowl moved in with last week’s weather but move around to find their feeding areas. Many small wetlands iced over and may or may not open back up.
East-central N.D.: Not many new reports.
North-central N.D.: Not much for goose numbers in the region.
Northeast N.D.: More waterfowl starting to move in with last week’s storm with fair to good success.
Divers are on the big water of Devils Lake.
Southeast N.D.: More snow geese moving through south of Interstate-94.
West-central N.D.: Good numbers of snow geese in the area after last week’s storm, in addition to Canada geese and ducks. With smaller wetlands icing over last week, look for bigger waters to hold birds. Pheasant success remains good.
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, recreation, wildlife, hunting, fishing
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