Dakota recreation report for July 22, 2011

Jamestown Sun

Dakota Recreation Report

July 22, 2011

Patricia Stockdill

Outdoor Notes:

Usable Devils Lake ramps: Round Lake, Pelican Lake, 6-Mile Bay, Creel Bay, Spirit Lake Casino. Grahams Island State Park ramp is open by access is day-to-day. Call (701) 766-4015 for updates.

Marginal Missouri River ramps: Steckel, Fort Rice. All other ramps closed. Idle speed only from 1,000 feet south of the Steckel boat ramp on the Missouri River to MacLean Bottoms, including MacLean Bottoms. Boating closed on that same section from sunset to sunrise.

Usable Lake Oahe ramps: Hazelton, Beaver Bay, Walker Bottoms, Cattail Bay, Langelier’s Bay.

Tournaments:

Fri. & Sat.: Lake Sakakawea, Beulah Bay.

Aug. 6: Devils Lake.

Aug. 6 & 7: Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort.

Fishing:

Devils Lake elevation, July 20: 1,454.22 feet above mean sea level (msl).

Stump Lake elevation, July 20: 1,454.1 msl.

Lake Sakakawea elevation, July 20: 1,853.7 msl; 120,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. Game Wardens: Unstable weather is creating hit-and-miss fishing success. Red, Wild Rice, Maple and Sheyenne rivers remain high. Fargo area ramps and shore-fishing access remains limited. However, the catfish spawn is winding down so look for improving success. Try cut suckers or goldeye. Some LaMoure and Barnes county reservoirs have a nice walleye bite with some fish in the 20-inch range. Water temperatures are rising, though. Try trolling with minnows or nightcrawlers along the channels or near drop-off and anchoring once the fish are located. Panfish bite continues, as well, but keepers are tough to come by. Try larger bait to help keep the smaller bluegill at bay. Devils Lake producing lots of small walleye but anglers are having trouble finding keepers. Lake Sakakawea somewhat tough for walleye although some bass are being taken in the farther west areas of the lake. With high water elevations on Lake Sakakawea, avoid going too close to docks and shorelines at high boating speeds to help reduce accidents and shoreline erosion.

Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Anglers continue finding good numbers of 10- to 13-inch walleye. Try Brown, Old or New Mil bays and Pelican Lake around Refuge Island using Lindy rigs with leeches or pitching crankbaits. Try Jerusalem Bay for white bass pitching crankbaits or using minnows.

Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Continued good walleye success with a few more bigger fish starting to show up. Try mud lines, rock structures or weed lines in 9 to 11 feet using a variety of presentations. Also try working deeper in 18 feet. Northern pike success remains fair.

Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Continued good success for small walleye in shallow water trolling slip bobbers or Lindy rigs with nightcrawlers. Try trolling in deeper water and move around for bigger fish in 12 to 20-plus feet. Northern pike success remains good pitching crankbaits or trolling in the back bays along the shoreline. Work the shoreline for white bass, as well.

Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Heat limiting fishing activity.

Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: The number of anglers on area lakes has slowed due to the heat but those going are still finding nice numbers of walleye.

Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Lake levels continue increasing with recent storms. However, the lake remains good for a mix of walleye, northern pike, perch and bass.

Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Lake Sakakawea remains fair for walleye on the east end. Lake Audubon fair, as well.

Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Spotty walleye success, perhaps due to weather fronts. Try 8 to 13 feet using bottom bouncers and minnows around the beacon.

Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Lake Sakakawea remains spotty and inconsistent for walleye. Reports are limited with an upcoming tournament this weekend. Lake Audubon slowed for walleye.

Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: Lots of activity on Lake Audubon with fair walleye success. A few smallmouth bass and northern pike mixed in. Try Cattail and Langelier’s bays on Lake Oahe for walleye. Bigger fish and better numbers seem to be farther south. Salmon anglers starting to work the face of Garrison Dam on Lake Sakakawea. Try Alkaline, Josephine, Etta and Green lakes for northern pike.

Red River, River Keepers, Fargo: The Red River is rising again and many Fargo-Moorhead ramps are closed, which is limiting boat fishing. Anglers shore-fishing are finding 8- to 11-pound catfish using cut bait.

Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited reports.

Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Continued fair success.

Spiritwood Lake, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fishing activity slowed with heat and humidity.

Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Fair evening walleye and bass bite.

North Dakota river levels and streamflow, July 20:

Baldhill Creek, Dazey gauge: Creek stage, 9.74 feet; streamflow, 1,230 CFS.

James River, Jamestown gauge: River stage, 11.38 feet; streamflow, 1,740 CFS.

James River, Grace City gauge: Streamflow, 172 CFS.

Pipestem Creek, Pingree gauge: Creek stage, 11.15 feet; streamflow, 1,360 CFS.

Red River, Fargo gauge: River stage, 24.94 feet; streamflow, 8,110 CFS.

Sheyenne River, Cooperstown gauge: River stage, 11.84 feet; streamflow, 726 CFS.

Sheyenne River, Valley City gauge: Streamflow, 2,540 CFS.

Numbers to know:

N.D. Game & Fish Department, main Bismarck office: 328-6300; website: (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, fishing, hunting