Dakota Recreation Report

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Tournaments

- Friday and Saturday.: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park (N.D. Governor’s Cup).

- July 24 and 25: Lake Sakakawea, Beulah Bay.

Fishing

Lake Sakakawea elevation, July 14: 1,841.16 feet above mean sea level.

- N.D. Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: Sheep Creek producing nice-sized trout and bluegill. A few bass mixed in. Castle Rock Dam and Mott Watershed Dam now stocked with fish. Lake Tschida remains slow. Lake Audubon slow. Missouri River remains good with improving activity in the chutes, as well.

- Beulah, Dakota Waters Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Missouri River slowing slightly but anglers still finding nice fish. Most activity is around Stanton or Hazelton-Fort Rice to the south. Some reports of improving salmon success in Lake Oahe. A few more anglers trying salmon fishing along Lake Sakakawea.

- Bowman, Bowman-Haley Dam Marina, Bowman-Haley Dam: Fair for bass with a few walleye mixed in.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River slowing slightly but anglers still finding nice fish. Most activity is around Stanton or Hazelton-Fort Rice to the south. Some reports of improving salmon success in Lake Oahe. A few more anglers trying salmon fishing along Lake Sakakawea.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/ Area Lakes: Try Tunnel Point or Softball in 14 to 17 feet using Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers or the cross and Beacon in 17 to 24 feet around McKenzie Bay on Lake Sakakawea. Try Battleship or Brown Springs in 14 to 20 feet using a variety of bait in Mossett Bay. Buffalo fence and petrified forest producing walleye in 16 to 24 feet using Lindy rigs with nightcrawlers or minnows in Skunk Bay. Davis Dam continues producing trout and bluegill. Camels Hump Dam good for trout. Dickinson Dike producing some trout using Mepps spinners and Power Bait.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/Area Lakes: Van Hook Arm on Lake Sakakawea producing smaller walleye in 18 to 25 feet. Try spinners and nightcrawlers around Indian Hills and Parshall Bay. West end slowing with best success from McKenzie Bay to the east using Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers in 14 to 26 feet. Also try 9 to 11 feet using crankbaits. Crappie Creek and Rattlesnake producing walleye on Lake Tschida with some bass and perch mixed in. Smaller lakes in the southwest slowing down.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Improving walleye activity with some limits, although still a little inconsistent yet. Try Lindy rigs with nightcrawlers along the flats in 25 to 35 feet. On-the-water gas now available.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Inconsistent and cool weather slowed angler numbers on Lake Tschida.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River slowed down. Anglers are still catching some walleye but have to work harder.

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea, McKenzie Bay: Continued fair to good walleye success with most activity back in the Little Missouri Arm. A few more anglers working out toward the main lake. Try 6 to 24 feet using variety of presentations and bait.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Walleye activity slowed with fish moving deeper and more difficult to locate.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/ Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea producing a few salmon along the face of the dam. Try variety of presentations in 50 to 60 feet. Walleye bite is tough with fish spread out in 5 to 55 feet. Try working the weeds with live bait or crankbaits around east end, Steinke Bay or Douglas Bay. Water is on the rise and temperatures remain somewhat cool. Missouri River remains good from shore at night for nice-sized walleye from shore. Wing wall bite is morning and evening. Some early morning bite on trout in the chutes. Try live bait, plastics or crankbaits down river.

- Ray, Lund’s Landing, Lake Sakakawea, Whitetail Bay: Lots of fishing activity with some reports of success.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Lake Sakakawea inconsistent, likely due to weather fronts.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort & Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Increasing walleye, catfish, and northern pike activity. Try variety of bait and presentations throughout the general area.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea: White Earth Bay and other areas on the west end on Lake Sakakawea slowed over the weekend, possibly wind-related.

North Dakota river report as of Tuesday

- Cannonball River, Regent gage: Streamflow, 25 cubic feet per second; river stage, 5.40 feet.

r Green River, New Hradec gage: Streamflow, 8.7 cfs; river stage, 6.65 feet.

- Heart River, Richardton gage: Streamflow, 347 cfs; river stage, 7.61 feet.

- Little Missouri River, Marmath gage: Streamflow data unavailable.

- Little Missouri River, Medora gage: Streamflow, 285 cfs; river stage, 3.06 feet.

- Little Missouri River, Long X gage: Streamflow, 535 cfs; river stage, 2.53 feet.

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

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont. gage: 27,300 cfs; river stage, 9.66 feet.

Numbers to know

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department main Bismarck office: 701-328-6300; Web site, http://gf.nd.gov.

- N.D. Game and Fish Department Dickinson office: 701- 227-7431.

- Report poachers: 800-472-2121.

- U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service Web site, http://www.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice.

— By Patricia Stockdill

Tags: outdoors, dakota, report