Jamestown Sun
Dakota Recreation Report
July 13, 2012
Patricia Stockdill
Outdoor Notes:
All Devils Lake ramps usable but call Grahams Island State Park, 766-4015, for road access and construction updates.
All Missouri River ramps usable except Sibley Park and MacLean Bottoms.
Saturday: Elkhorn Ranch Tour. Meet at Theodore Roosevelt Nat’l. Park visitor center, Medora, 8 a.m. MDT.
Saturday: MULEY youth day camp, 10 a.m., Moffit Gun Range. Sponsored by the Northern Badlands Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation. Pre-register by emailing ndchair.mdf@gmail.com.
Tournaments:
Saturday: Devils Lake; Creel Bay, Jamestown Reservoir, Devils Lake; 6-Mile Bay, Stump Lake, Lake Sakakawea; Wolf Creek.
July 20 & 21: Lake Sakakawea; Fort Stevenson State Park, N.D. Governor’s Cup.
July 21: Lake Sakakawea; Fort Stevenson, Junior N.D. Governor’s Cup.
Fishing:
Devils Lake elevation, July 11: 1,452.87 feet above mean sea level (msl).
Stump Lake elevation, July 11: 1,452.88 msl.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, July 11: 1,837.9 msl; 24,500 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Stable weather is helping bring back fishing to more typical summer patterns. Smaller southeastern lakes continue providing success, including Twin Lakes in LaMoure County for walleye and northern pike. Flood and Diamond lakes remain fair for pike but almost any of the area lakes have some activity. Walleye are moving deeper so work out beyond weeds and try drop-offs using live bait. The switch to crankbaits might be coming, as well, with warmer water and weather temperatures. Try working the shallows off weed edges with spinner bait for pike. Local rivers continue dropping with fishing slowed somewhat. The Red River catfish spawn appears to be over so try working snags and holes on the edge of faster current with the best time in the morning more so than later in the day when it’s warmer. Try cut goldeye, chicken liver or fresh shrimp. Sheyenne River continues producing steady smallmouth bass success. Baldhill Dam releases were increased and river is muddy. Try pitching blue and white crankbaits over rocks. No reports from Devils Lake. Look for a mix of species along the south shore of Lake Sakakawea. Try variety of depths depending on wind. Missouri River remains consistently good from both boat and shore. Lots of recreational boating in the Bismarck-Mandan area.
Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Good walleye and pike bite throughout much of the lake. Try pitching crankbaits in the shallows in Little Penny Bay, Knudson’s Bay, Doc Hagen’s or New Mil Bay. Also try trolling spinners and bottom bouncers or crankbaits in 15 to 20 feet around Doc Hagen’s, the towers and Golden Highway with best success probably using slip bobbers in 10 to 15 feet around rock structure. White bass slowed.
Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Lots of small and eater-sized walleye. Try spinners and bottom bouncers or trolling crankbaits along the weed beds or any type of structure. Pike remain mixed in with walleye. Limited recent white bass reports.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Continued good walleye and pike success. Try spinners and bottom bouncers. Occasional perch mixed in. Anglers finding a few white bass but success slowed somewhat.
Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued good for a mix of walleye, crappie, perch and pike. Small area lakes remain good, as well.
Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Continued good throughout small area lakes with Jamestown Reservoir producing good crappie success. Most anglers working farther north of the dam for a variety of species.
Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Continued good success throughout much of the lake with a nice variety of fish – small walleye, pike and a mix of panfish. Try a variety of depths. Lake is starting to green up.
Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Coal Mine Lake and Harvey Dam fair for pike. Goose Lake fair to good for pike and walleye. Antelope Lake continues producing walleye and is fair to good for perch. Hurdsfield Lake good for walleye.
Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued good for crappie and walleye.
Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Continued good overall success.
Spiritwood Lake, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fair to good success.
Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: The lake is greening up with limited reports.
N.D. rivers streamflow and river stage, July 11:
Baldhill Creek, Dazey: Creek stage, 6.37 feet; streamflow, 13 CFS.
James River, Grace City: River stage, 4.28 feet; streamflow, 3 CFS.
James River, Jamestown: River stage, 3.59 feet; streamflow, 56 CFS.
Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Creek stage, 4.91 feet; streamflow, 5.7 CFS.
Red River, Fargo: Streamflow, 678 CFS.
Sheyenne River, Cooperstown: River stage, 11.58 feet; streamflow, 619 CFS.
Sheyenne River, Valley City: River stage, 5.88 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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