Jamestown Sun
March 30, 2012
Patricia Stockdill
Outdoor Notes:
Fri. & Sat.: Future of Hunting conference, Bismarck.
Friday: Prairie Pothole Ducks Unlimited banquet, 6 p.m., Woodworth Community Center.
Saturday: James Valley Pheasants Forever banquet, Jamestown.
Saturday: Zone 2 mountain lion season closes.
Sunday: New fishing and furbearer licenses due.
April 14: Spring turkey season opens.
Fishing:
Devils Lake elevation, March 28: Unavailable.
Stump Lake elevation, March 28: 1,453.45 mean sea level (msl).
Lake Sakakawea elevation, March 28: 1,838.2 msl; 17,500 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake is open with northern pike shore-fishing activity along the bridges. A few boats on the water, too. The Red River is warming up so look for improved fishing activity soon. A traditional presentation of minnows off the areas near the old low-head dams or creek inlets is producing the most consistent action with smaller and eater-sized catfish outnumbering big fish. Riverbanks are still muddy, however, so be careful. Area reservoirs and small lakes slowly starting to improve for northern pike in the shallower back bays. Lake Sakakawea is open with some northern pike success along south shore access areas, including Beaver, Renner, Beulah and Hazen bays. Shorelines are extremely soft. Missouri River tailrace remains fair but walleye success slowed around Stanton and Washburn. Wing walls open but remember new regulations require any released fish to be lowered in baskets from the wing walls and other bridges and piers. Not much activity on small area lakes.
Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Lake is open. Limited activity other than pike and occasional walleye in the coulees above Devils Lake and around the bridges.
Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Lake is ice-free with some activity at the coulees above Devils Lake and the bridge.
Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Lake is open with the pre-spawn walleye bite underway.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Coulees feeding Devils Lake and Channel A producing walleye and pike with the pre-spawn walleye bite underway. Try jigs with twister tails mimicking minnows. The lake is ice-free.
Harvey Dam, Harvey: Some pike activity along the Sheyenne River in areas where access is available.
Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited activity.
Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Weather limiting boat activity but anglers continue working area rivers for a mix of pike, walleye and occasional panfish.
Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No activity with cool water temperatures yet.
Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Lake Audubon open with some boat fishing. No reports, however. Lake Sakakawea fair for pike around Wolf Creek. Missouri River fair for walleye and pike from the tailrace down to Washburn.
Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River remains fair to good for walleye using jigs and minnows or plastics. Water is clear in the tailrace so success slows when there are lots of boats. Try 3-way swivels in the tailrace and chutes but most success is down river from the ramp. Fair at best from shore with better success on pike. Wing walls open and producing small walleye and a few catfish, pike and ling. Try jigs and minnows.
Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: Continued good for walleye on the Missouri River from boat and shore using jigs and minnows or crankbaits from the tailrace down to Fort Rice. Some pike success on Moffit Creek. Try any culvert areas on local lakes or creeks with flowing water.
Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.
Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: No docks in place yet and the lake is low but fair activity.
Red River, River Keepers, Fargo: Good walleye and pike fishing in the Wahpeton-Breckenridge area with walleye biting after dark. Red River around Fargo is producing small catfish, goldeye and eelpout. Water temperatures already approaching 60 degrees.
Spiritwood Lake, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited reports.
Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: No reports.
Light goose migration:
North Dakota: A few birds still filtering through but a majority of the migration is already north into northern North Dakota and Canada. Good numbers of snow geese around Devils Lake, Leeds and Rugby.
N.D. rivers streamflow and river stage, March 28:
Baldhill Creek, Dazey: Creek stage, 6.97 feet; streamflow, 63 CFS.
James River, Grace City: River stage, 5.01 feet; streamflow, 43 CFS.
James River, Jamestown: River stage, 3.36 feet; streamflow, 53 CFS.
Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Creek stage, 5.48 feet; streamflow, 59 CFS.
Sheyenne River, Cooperstown: River stage, 11.18 feet; streamflow, 486 CFS.
Sheyenne River, Valley City: River stage, 5.75 feet.
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.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bismarck, website: (www.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice).
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