Dakota recreation report

Talk about it

By Patricia Stockdill

Tournaments

Friday and Saturday.: Lake Oahe, Prairie Knights Marina.

Saturday: Missouri River tailrace.

June 6 & 7: Lake Sakakawea, McKenzie Bay.

June 6: Lake Audubon.

Fishing

Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,832 feet above mean sea level.

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Continued activity below the dam of Lake Tschida. A few anglers on the lake itself but not walleye success remains slow. Missouri River continues producing walleye from Washburn working south to the border.

Beulah, Dakota Waters Resort, Lake Sakakwea: Anglers finding a few walleye. Try 13 to 17 feet as well as shallow up to 5 feet using Lindy rigs with minnows or nightcrawlers around Renner or Beaver bays. Some northern pike from shore.

Bowman, Bowman-Haley Dam Marina, Bowman-Haley Dam: Somewhat mixed walleye and northern pike success.

Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River becoming a little spottier with best success farther south using jigs and minnows.

Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Tschida below the dam remains good for nice-sized walleye. Try pitching jigs from shore. McKenzie Bay fair to good for walleye in 5 to 17 feet using variety of presentations with minnows. Also try crankbaits. Skunk Bay continues producing some sauger in 25 to 35 feet. Try variety of presentations south of the bridge from New Town for walleye with generally good success. Van Hook Arm also good for walleye. Bowman-Haley continues producing smaller walleye with best success from shore using floating jigs or pitching jigs with minnows. Camels Hump Dam fair for trout.

Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Heart River remains good although somewhat less consistent for walleye throughout much of the river. Many southwestern lakes improving, although Indian Creek is somewhat spotty. Shadehill Dam remains good. Bowman-Haley fair to good. Work shallow on Lake Sakakawea in the weeds. Paddlefish season closes Sunday but anglers might still want to try around the state line.

Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Occasional walleye with water temperatures remaining cool yet, although water clearing somewhat. Look for improving success with warmer water.

Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Continued walleye activity.

Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/Area Lakes: Continued good success on the Missouri River with few reports from area lakes as anglers concentrate on the river.

Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea, McKenzie Bay: Improving walleye success with most activity closer into the arm using minnows or nightcrawlers.

New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: A few walleye starting to show up in the Van Hook Arm. Try 5 to 11 feet using Lindy rigs and minnows or jigs. Also slip bobbers in the weeds.

Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Not much activity on Lake Sakakawea although anglers still finding some salmon along the face of the dam. Missouri River producing walleye using variety of live bait and presentations. Also try Gulp. Most activity around the coal veins and cable crossing. Missouri River spotty with most activity at night from the rocks. In general, activity is improving on the river.

Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Tobacco Garden producing some northern pike on Lake Sakakawea with walleye activity around White Earth Bay.

Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea: Continued good walleye activity on Lake Sakakawea from Lund’s Landing to Beacon Point. Trenton Lake muddy. Missouri River is running full and muddy.

Missouri River System

Lake Sakakawea usable ramps: Two at Beaver Bay, Beulah Bay, Camp of the Cross, Charging Eagle Bay main, Dakota Waters Resort, two at Deepwater Creek, two at Douglas Creek, two at Fort Stevenson State Park, Four Bears, Garrison Creek Cabin site, Government Bay main, three at Hazen Bay, Indian Hills, Lewis & Clark State Park, two at Little Beaver Bay, Lund’s Landing, two at McKenzie Bay, New Town Marina main, two at Parshall Bay, two at Pouch Point, Reunion Bay (usable to 1,836 msl), two at Sakakawea State Park, Sanish Bay, Skunk Creek, Sportsmen’s Centennial, two at Steinke Bay, two at Tobacco Garden, two at Van Hook, West Totten Trail, White Earth main, two at Wolf Creek.

Missouri River usable ramps: All usable except Sibley Park. Status unknown at Hoge’s and State Line ramps.

Rivers report

Cannonball River, Regent gage: Streamflow, 21 cubic feet per second; river stage, 5.34 feet.

Green River, New Hradec gage: Streamflow, 17 cfs; river stage, 6.87 feet.

Heart River, Richardton gage: Streamflow, 99 cfs; river stage, 6.18 feet.

Little Missouri River, Marmath gage: Streamflow, 306 cfs; river stage, 2.45 feet.

Little Missouri River, Medora gage: Streamflow, 566 cfs; river stage, 3.78 feet.

Little Missouri River, Long X gage: Streamflow, 1,040 cfs; river stage, 3.32 feet.

Missouri River, Garrison Dam average daily discharge: 16,000 cfs.

Numbers to know

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. main Bismarck office: 701-328-6300; Web site http://gf.nd.gov.

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dickinson office: 701-227-7431.

Report All Poachers: 800-472-2121.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bismarck, Web site: http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice.

Tags: dakota report, outdoors, northland, rec, sports, fishing