Dak Rec Report June 18

By Patricia Stockdill

June 19, 2015 at 7:17 AM

Jamestown Sun

Dakota Recreation Report

June 19, 2015

Patricia Stockdill

Outdoor Notes:

June 20: Fort Ransom State Park N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. 50th anniversary tree planting ceremony, 9 a.m.

June 21: First day of summer.

June 27: Grahams Island State Park N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. 50th anniversary celebration, 12:30 p.m.

June 28: Fort Stevenson State Park N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. 50th anniversary celebration, 12:30 p.m.

June 28: Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. 50th anniversary tree planting ceremony, 2 p.m.

Tournaments:

June 20: Spiritwood Lake; Devils Lake, 6-Mile Bay; Lake Sakakawea, Sakakawea State Park; Lake Oahe, Beaver Bay; New Johns Lake; Missouri River, Washburn.

June 20-21: Devils Lake, Grahams Island.

June 21: South Hoffer Lake.

June 26-28: Devils Lake, Grahams Island.

June 27-28: Lake Audubon.

Fishing:

Devil Lake elevation, June 17: 1,451.83 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

Stump Lake elevation: 1,451.71 MSL.

Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,842.26 MSL; 21,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Continued walleye success with more stable weather. Active fish are deeper into transition areas in many lakes throughout Richland, Sargent, LaMoure, McIntosh, and Barnes counties. Work drop-offs, weeds, holes, and edges of main bays with spinners or crankbaits. Mark active fish and then try anchoring and jigging with minnows. Also try leeches, nightcrawlers, or Gulp. Continued improving Red River catfish success. Water levels are dropping and debris is settling out. Shorelines also firming up. Try working break lines off the main channel in deeper water near structure. Water temperatures warming in the low 70-degree range so look for a change in success as catfish begin moving towards spawning nests. Look for more catfish in slower water and tight structure during the spawn. Try cut suckers or goldeye. No reports from Devils Lake. Van Hook Arm fair to good at times for walleye on Lake Sakakawea. Parshall Bay also fair but south side slower.

Devils Lake, Ed's Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Work shallow bays in 3 to 10 feet using slip bobbers and leeches or spinners with nightcrawlers around Pelican Lake, west side of Minnewaukan Flats, or south end of Main Bay. Move around. Also try jigging at the bridges or deeper points and structure. Pike remain good throughout much of the lake.

Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Fair activity but weather fronts are creating an inconsistent bite. Try a variety of presentations and mix it up if the bite is slow.

Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Good walleye success. Work a little deeper as water temperatures warm. Continued pike activity, including many nice-sized ones.

Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Warmer water temperatures are finding more trolling activity using crankbaits or spinners and live bait in shallow water. Also try slip bobbers in the early morning or late evening hours. Move around with the key being able to locate warm water.

Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Continued fair to good success generally throughout most area lakes.

Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Continued activity on small area lakes with increasing activity on Jamestown Reservoir, although crappie and walleye are on the small side. Try an evening bite for bigger fish.

Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Inconsistent weather creating limited reports.

Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Good numbers of eater-sized walleye from mid depths of 8 to 15 feet using live bait, especially leeches. Also try crankbaits but some areas are getting weedy but it's challenging to keep the hooks clean.

Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Fair to good walleye success with some pike and other species mixed in

Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Anglers need to be versatile on Lake Sakakawea with no one presentation producing over the other. Work as shallow as 5 to 8 feet or as deep as 15 feet. Lots of pike activity from Camp of the Cross throughout Douglas Bay. Lake Audubon remains fair to good for walleye but sort through for the keepers.

Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Somewhat improving walleye success with better activity still in the bays in warmer water of 7 to 11 feet. Try jigs and minnows but crankbaits or Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers are also starting to produce.

Lake Sakakawea, 6-Mile Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Lake Audubon continues producing walleye using spinners and nightcrawlers and a slow presentation. Back bays of Lake Sakakawea starting to produce walleye. Try pitching jigs or crankbaits up into the shallows. Van Hook Arm improved with fair to good walleye success.

Lake Sakakawea, Scott's Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River continues producing walleye from boats using a variety of presentations in a variety of places down river. More walleye starting to show up from shore at night with a few trout mixed in. Chutes remain slow but no catfish activity yet. Lake Sakakawea producing somewhat of a walleye bite in Silo Bay with continued success in Douglas Bay. Try 3 to 12 feet in warmer water using minnows or nightcrawlers with jigs or Lindy rigs.

Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Area lakes remain fair to good, including Clear, Goose, and Antelope lakes. Look for some success at Hurdsfield and Wolf lakes, as well.

Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: Alkaline Lake fair for walleye and pike. Try jigging with nightcrawlers or minnows or crankbaits. Sibley Lake ramp work is underway. Moffit Creek fair for pike. Missouri River is OK for walleye but it's muddy with recent rains. Best success is in clearer water from Beaver Bay to the south to the border. Try a variety of presentations. Shore-fishing success around Bismarck-Mandan is better in the early morning or late evening hours. Crown Butte Dam producing bluegill with a few crappie mixed in.

Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Look for continued crappie activity.

Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.

Red River, River Keepers, Fargo: Good catfish bite from Wahpeton to Brushvale.

Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Some bass success.

Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.

N.D. river elevation and flows:

Baldhill Creek, Dazey: Elevation, Elevation, 6.94 feet; streamflow, 51 CFS.

James River, Grace City: Elevation, 5.02 feet; streamflow, 51 CFS.

James River, Jamestown: Elevation, 5.56 feet; streamflow, 406 CFS.

Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Elevation, 5.2 feet; streamflow, 29 CFS.

Red River, Fargo: Elevation, 16.21 feet; streamflow, 2,190 CFS.

Sheyenne River, Cooperstown: Elevation, 11.65 feet; streamflow, 666 CFS.