Jamestown Sun
Dakota Recreation Report
June 17, 2011
Patricia Stockdill
Outdoor Notes:
Usable Devils Lake ramps: Round Lake, Pelican Lake, 6-Mile Bay (Schwab), Creel Bay, Spirit Lake. Grahams Island State Park usable but day-to-day. Call 766-4015 for access updates.
Usable Lake Oahe ramps: Hazelton, Beaver Bay, Walker Bottoms, Cattail Bay, Langelier’s Bay.
Marginal Missouri River ramps: Steckel, Fort Rice.
Missouri River idle speed only from 1,000 feet south of the Steckel Landing to MacLean Bottoms, including MacLean Bottoms.
Lake Sakakawea ramps update: Hale Marina, Reunion Bay, Skunk Bay, and White Earth Bay unusable.
Fall turkey applications now available from the N.D. Game and Fish Dept. and license vendors. Apply online at (gf.nd.gov). Applications due July 6.
Tournaments:
Saturday: Devils Lake, Lakewood; Lake Sakakawea, Sakakawea State Park.
Sat. & Sun.: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park.
June 24-26: Devils Lake, Grahams Island State Park.
Fishing:
Devils Lake elevation, June 15: 1,454.25 feet above mean sea level (msl).
Stump Lake elevation, June 15: 1,453.98 msl.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, June 15: 1,853.7 msl; 140,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Anglers are finding a nice, steady northern pike bite in the shallows of many smaller lakes and reservoirs throughout the southeast. Numbers of 18to 24-inch pike are hitting smelt, nightcrawlers or Dardevles on Dickey, LaMoure, McIntosh and Richland county lakes. Cut goldeye was producing catfish on the Red River but it seems the better success is farther north in the Grand Forks stretch of the river more so than around Fargo-Moorhead. Lake Ashtabula has decent pike and white bass success but walleye seem a bit slower. Lake Sakakawea producing catfish in the east end back bays.
Coal Mine Lake, Anamoose: Fair for northern pike.
Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Continued walleye activity on Pelican Lake pitching crankbaits into the shallows from boats. Also try Howards’ Bay, Hog Bay, New Mill Bay or Doc Hagen’s on the western flats pitching crankbaits or slip bobbers and leeches. East Bay is improving for walleye. Try the dairy farm, sewer area, Penny Bay or Brown’s Bay pitching crankbaits or slip bobbers and leeches in 5 to 10 feet.
Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Weather fronts continue making inconsistent success although when the bite is on anglers are finding good numbers of nice-sized walleye. Locate structure and work shallow. Northern pike remain good.
Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Good northern pike success. Try Pelican Lake. Improving walleye success. Look for more consistency with warmer, stable weather.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good for walleye working shallow in less than 5 feet pitching crankbaits. Also try slip bobbers and leeches. Areas include Mauvais Coulee, Old Mil and New Mil Bays or Pelican Lake.
Goose Lake, Harvey: Fair for northern pike and walleye. Sheyenne River continues producing activity where access is possible.
Harvey Dam, Harvey: Slow.
Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Access remains somewhat limited with most anglers going to Spiritwood Lake.
Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Weather and high water continues limiting activity. Anglers can fish off the Buchanan Bridge with some walleye success. Only 1 dock in place on the reservoir yet. Small area lakes were producing walleye before this week’s rainstorm. Devils Lake producing white bass.
Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Shore-fishing remains steady with a mix of northern pike and walleye. A fair number of perch and bass along with occasional crappie, as well. Boat fishing is starting to pick up.
Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Weather continues limiting activity on Lake Sakakawea. Weather fronts also slowing Lake Audubon success but look for improving action with stable weather.
Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Occasional smallmouth bass from shore but boat fishing remains limited yet.
Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Some walleye activity along the north shore of Lake Sakakawea. Try pitching jigs towards the shoreline in the shallows in less than 5 feet. Also try 20 feet with Lindy rigs with slow presentations. Water temperatures remain on the cool side, which is possibly limiting success. Look for northern pike in the back bays.
Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: Lake Audubon fair for walleye with a good number of anglers on the water.
Red River, River Keepers, Fargo: All ramps in Fargo-Moorhead area now open but have mud issues. With the current rain, water levels may raise again forcing ramps to close so check ramp status before making any trips to the Red. Mixed fishing response with some anglers catching a few fish. Not many anglers on the water, though, with flooding concerns so it’s difficult to get many reports.
Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Access remains limited.
Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Limited access with little activity.
Spiritwood Lake, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fair to good evening walleye success with a good number of anglers on the water. Try spinners and nightcrawlers or minnows.
Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Try the evening hours for bass.
North Dakota river levels and streamflow, June 15:
Baldhill Creek, Dazey gauge: Creek stage, 7.26 feet; streamflow, 98 CFS.
James River, Jamestown gauge: River stage, 11.25 feet; streamflow, 1,710 CFS.
James River, Grace City gauge: Streamflow, 196 CFS.
Pipestem Creek, Pingree gauge: Creek stage, 5.67 feet; streamflow, 73 CFS.
Red River, Fargo gauge: River stage, 17.93 feet; streamflow, 3,890 CFS.
Sheyenne River, Cooperstown gauge: River stage, 11.63 feet; streamflow, 645 CFS.
Sheyenne River, Valley City gauge: Streamflow, 889 CFS.
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
More from around the web
RSS Feeds