Jamestown Sun
Dakota Recreation Report
May 25, 2012
Patricia Stockdill
Outdoor Notes:
All Devils Lake ramps usable but road construction continues to Grahams Island State Park.
Thursday: Landscaping with wildflowers, Sullys Hill Nat’l. Game Preserve, Devils Lake, 6:30 p.m.
June 2: National Trails Day guided hikes, 9:30 a.m., 4 p.m. and night hike at dusk, Icelandic State Park.
June 2 & 3: Free fishing weekend.
June 6: Deer gun, muzzleloader and landowner applications due.
Tournaments:
June 2: Missouri River, Garrison Dam tailrace; Devils Lake, Estenson Landing; Lake Audubon, East Totten Trail, Lake Oahe; Cattail Bay; Red River, Wahpeton catfish tournament.
June 8: Devils Lake, Grahams Island.
June 9 & 10: Devils Lake, Spirit Lake Casino; Spiritwood Lake; Lake Oahe, Langeliers Bay.
June 9: Lake Oahe, Beaver Bay.
Fishing:
Devils Lake elevation, May 22: 1,453.23 feet above mean sea level (msl).
Stump Lake elevation, May 22: 1,453.2 msl.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, May 22: 1,835.3 msl; 26,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: The Red, Sheyenne, Maple and Wild Rice rivers all slowed with fair overall success. However, the Red River in Fargo is below 16 feet so shore and boat access is good. Stay mobile for catfish and be prepared to move around. Start with the edges of deeper holes and cuts but move to back- and slack water areas if it’s slow. Try fresh cut suckers or goldeye with better success than with nightcrawlers or minnows. Bass success improving on the Sheyenne River with better success from shallower backwater areas using jigs and twister tails. Water temperature of Woodhaven, Casselton Reservoir and Brewer Lake warming up with improving panfish success. Try small pieces of nightcrawlers and jigs about a foot below the surface in 8 to 10 feet for bluegill, perch and occasional crappie. Richland, and Sargent county area lakes slowed but continued walleye and northern pike coming from LaMoure and Barnes county lakes. Riverdale bluffs producing a few sauger on Lake Sakakawea. Missouri River continues producing small walleye from boats or the wing walls. Slower farther down river.
Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Pelican Lake remains good for pike with more walleye showing up. Work shallow bays with wind-blown shorelines, rocks, trees or weeds. Try pitching crankbaits. Work Golden Pond, Howard’s Bay or west side around Minnewaukan for walleye using crankbaits. Also try Main Bay or shallow bays around Grahams Island.
Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Continued good pike success with some walleye mixed. Work shallow water in Pelican Lake or areas with current pitching crankbaits or slip bobbers with jigs. Occasional nice-sized white bass.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Continued good pike success around Mauvais Coulee, Pelican Lake or north end of 6-Mile Bay. Try slip bobbers and leeches or crankbaits in shallow, treed areas for walleye.
Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir fair for walleye.
Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir fair to good for walleye throughout much of the lake. Try Dry Lake near Bordulac. Lots of activity up and down the river for walleye.
Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Improving success throughout much of the lake with fair mixture of walleye, pike, perch and smallmouth bass. Best success remains from shore yet. Water is quite clear. Limited white bass reports.
Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Lake Audubon starting to produce a few walleye and nice-sized smallmouth bass. Move around, including along the east end embankment, and try humps and points with various presentations. Lake Sakakawea producing a few sauger and walleye along the Riverdale Bluffs in 20 to 60 feet using jigs and minnows. Start working the east end humps and back bays with water temperatures starting to warm. Missouri River continues producing good numbers of small walleye. Sort through for keepers.
Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Coal Mine Lake and Harvey Dam fair for pike. Goose Lake fair to good for pike and walleye. Hurdsfield Lake producing walleye. Sheyenne River good for pike where access is possible.
Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Increasing activity but limited reports.
Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Fair for perch and crappie. Watch sunken islands with low water levels.
Red River, River Keepers, Fargo: Shore fishing remains popular with good action in the southern Red River Valley. Some large catfish caught in the Fargo area.
Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Try evening hours for nice walleye. Slower during the day for walleye but look for smallmouth bass success.
N.D. rivers streamflow and river stage, May 22:
Baldhill Creek, Dazey: Creek stage, 6.58 feet; streamflow, 22 CFS.
James River, Grace City: River stage, 4.81 feet; streamflow, 28 CFS.
James River, Jamestown: River stage, 3.78 feet; streamflow, 10 CFS.
Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Creek stage, 5.23 feet; streamflow, 38 CFS.
Sheyenne River, Cooperstown: River stage, 10.76 feet; streamflow, 283 CFS.
Sheyenne River, Valley City: River stage, 4.9 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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