Jamestown Sun
May 18, 2012
Patricia Stockdill
Outdoor Notes:
Paddlefish season now closed.
All Devils Lake ramps usable.
Sunday: Spring turkey season closes.
May 28: Memorial Day.
Tournaments:
Fri. & Sat.: Missouri River.
Sat. & Sun.: Jamestown Reservoir.
Saturday: Devils Lake, Missouri River; Fort Rice.
May 26: GDU Lakes.
Fishing:
Devils Lake elevation, May 16: 1,453.3 feet above mean sea level (msl).
Stump Lake elevation, May 16: 1,453.33 msl.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, May 16: 1,835.5 msl; 26,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake remains good for northern pike with improving walleye success. River fishing continues improving with little fluctuation in water levels. Most Red River ramps are usable in the Fargo area. Shorelines also drying out so shore-fishing is producing success with more activity. Best catfish success seems to be later in the evening off breaks and outside edges of river bends in slack water. Try cut goldeye or nightcrawlers. Some walleye success using floating jigs with minnows off the bottom. Smaller area rivers slowed somewhat although the Sheyenne River is a bit more productive for walleye at low-head dams. Try jigs and minnows. Wild Rice, Rush and Maple rivers and feeder creeks all slowed but a few fish are still biting. Smaller lakes slow in Cass County. Better northern pike and walleye action is coming from Sargent, Richland and LaMoure county lakes. Try rattle traps for smaller pike at Twin Lake. Missouri River remains fair for walleye. Lake Audubon starting to produce to some walleye.
Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Continued good pike success on Devils Lake with some white bass now starting to show up. Anglers are still working hard to find walleye. Pike are quite aggressive. Try the west side of the lake with some success now on the main lake. The key is working shallow, warm water around rock structure or cattails.
Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Improving success with warmer weather. Work shallow, warm water in areas with current, including around bridges. Abundant pike activity. Not many white bass reports yet but look for better success with warmer temperatures.
Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Fair to good for walleye and pike on Pelican Lake and Minnewaukan Flats.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Excellent pike success. Warming water temperatures in the afternoon are improving walleye success. Try Pelican Lake, Mauvais Coulee, 6-Mile Bay or along the shorelines using Lindy rigs and leeches or soft plastics, slip bobbers or crankbaits.
Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fair success.
Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Good for pike from shore.
Lonetree MWA area lakes: Coal Mine Lake and Harvey Dam fair for pike. Hurdsfield Lake continues producing walleye. Goose Lake fair for pike and walleye. Sheyenne River good for pike where access is possible.
Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Lots of activity on the lake as well as below the spillway.
Spiritwood Lake, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: More activity with some success.
N.D. rivers streamflow and river stage, May 16:
Baldhill Creek, Dazey: Creek stage, 6.68 feet; streamflow, 31 CFS.
James River, Jamestown: River stage, 4.1 feet; streamflow, 145 CFS.
Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Creek stage, 5.3 feet; streamflow, 47 CFS.
Red River, Fargo: River stage, 15.71 feet.
Sheyenne River, Cooperstown: River stage, 10.9 feet; streamflow, 339 CFS.
Sheyenne River, Valley City: River stage, 5.18 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).
More from around the web
RSS Feeds