Jamestown Sun
Oct. 5, 2012
Patricia Stockdill
Outdoor Notes:
Beware of dry grass conditions.
Nonresidents can’t hunt N.D. Game & Fish Dept. WMAs and PLOTS Oct. 13-19.
Sat. & Sun.: Youth pheasant season.
Oct. 13: McIntosh County Ducks Unlimited (DU) banquet, Dakota Family Restaurant, Ashley, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 13: Pheasant, fall turkey seasons open.
Oct. 13: Goose Lake Pheasants Forever banquet and auction, Braddock City Center.
Oct. 17: Foster County DU banquet, Carrington, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 19: Devils Lake DU banquet, Devils Lake KC, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: Tewaukon DU banquet, Mantador VFW, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: Kidder County DU banquet, Steele VFW, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: Wood Lake Pheasants Forever banquet and auction, Kulm City Center.
Oct. 21: Fall crow, Unit 2 sandhill crane seasons close.
Fishing:
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake remains fair for small walleye. Try 6-Mile Bay and other areas scattered throughout the lake, a matter of timing and being in the right spot when the bite is on. Overall success is somewhat spottier. Limited fishing reports from southeastern lakes. The Red River remains low but open shoreline could be a shore-fishing option below low head dams. Maple River is extremely low in some areas but the Sheyenne River is running higher. Missouri River slowed for walleye but drum fishing is good. Walleye success slowed on Lake Sakakawea.
Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Most success is around the moon bars on Pelican Lake, refuge island, Pelican ridge or the railroad tracks for walleye. Try trolling. Also try the Golden Highway, Doc Hagen’s or structure on the main lake in 15 to 25 feet for walleye using crankbaits or spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers.
Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good for small walleye. Work any type of structure. A few bigger fish mixed in.
Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited reports.
Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Limited reports but some crappie success.
Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Continued strong perch success. Walleye remain fair. Limited pike success but good numbers of bass with some large fish showing up.
Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Harvey Dam slow. Light fishing pressure. Hurdsfield Lake good for walleye, fair for perch. Goose Lake fair to good for walleye and pike. Antelope Lake fair to good for walleye and perch.
Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: Continued OK salmon success on the south shore of Lake Sakakawea. Try No. 4 or 5 Mepps or spoons from shore. Some activity on the Missouri River from Double Ditch working north to the tailrace.
Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Not much activity.
Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Slow.
Red River, River Keepers, Fargo: Improving shore-fishing success in the Wahpeton area with occasional nice-sized catfish. Look for the possibility of a nice fall walleye bite. River remains low.
Spiritwood Lake, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited reports.
Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Not many anglers but those going are finding fair smallmouth bass success with a mix of perch and walleye.
Hunting:
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. game wardens: Be careful with waterfowl identification. Duck numbers remain in good shape throughout much of northeastern N.D. Doves are becoming scarce. A few cranes have moved into northeastern N.D. Goose numbers are increasing with a few snow geese starting to trickle in from Canada. Be sure to review 2012 waterfowl regulations with some changes this year. Hunters need permission to drive on PLOTS land.
Arrowwood NWR, Pingree: Birds are concentrating on remaining wetlands. Fair Canada goose numbers in Barnes, Cass and Stutsman counties.
Lonetree WMA, Harvey: Good numbers of local ducks and Canada geese in the region. Fair grouse success. Some doves still in the area but those numbers will continue to decline.
North-central N.D.: Not much waterfowl movement other than local birds.
Northeast N.D.: Good numbers of local ducks but continued pressure could move them out early. Ducks more concentrated with wetlands drying up. A few swans and geese starting to migrate in.
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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