Dakota Recreation Report

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Tournaments

- Today through Saturday: Missouri River, FLW Walleye Tour Championship.

Fishing

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday: 1,841.3 with Garrison Dam average daily releases of 12,500 cubic feet per second.

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: Missouri River remains fair to good for walleye from the tailrace to Washburn. North Lemmon Lake producing a few trout. Sheep Creek producing some bluegill.

- Bowman, Bowman-Haley Dam Marina, Bowman-Haley Dam: Limited activity and no reports.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Lots of boats on the river with the championship tournament. Continued walleye activity using nightcrawlers or crankbaits. Hazelton Ramp open. Lake Sakakawea has some salmon activity. Try longlining along the spillway or face of the dam. No reports from area lakes.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Not much activity on Lake Sakakawea but try Shell Island in 30 feet using nightcrawlers. Try deep in 30 to 40 feet around the beacon in McKenzie Bay using slow presentation of Lindy rigs or jigs with minnows. Indian Creek producing perch using nightcrawlers.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Not many anglers out but those going to McKenzie Bay on Lake Sakakawea are finding a mix of smallmouth bass and perch. Some salmon activity in 60 feet longlining along the face of the dam.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Try minnows in 30 feet for a late afternoon and evening walleye bite.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Little activity on the lake.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Weather permitting; try Shell Village along the main channel with jigs and minnows in 30 to 50 feet.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/ Missouri River: Wind and weather limiting activity athough those going to Lake Sakakawea are still finding some salmon. Try longlining along Intake Bay or spillway. Try Steinke or Douglas bays for walleye working deep in 35 feet using Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers, minnows or Gulp. Missouri River remains good for walleye jigging or pulling live bait around the stumps, coal veins and cable crossing. Also try honey hole. Continued activity along the rocks with crankbaits at night. Fair in the chutes with crankbaits or three-way swivels in early to mid-afternoon.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Limited activity on Lake Sakakawea and no reports from small area lakes.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort & Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Activity slow but those going are still finding a few walleye. Look for improving success as it moves more toward fall.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea: Fair for mix of sauger and walleye on the Missouri River. Not much activity on Lake Sakakawea with wind and cold front. Look for improving fall bite with cooler weather.

Hunting

- NDGF District Game Wardens: Fair waterfowl success in west-central and central North Dakota for the opener with fair number of hunters. Adults cannot hunt pheasants during this weekend’s youth pheasant season.

- Northwestern: Not much waterfowl hunting pressure for the opener. First mountain lion harvested. Grouse hunters finding fair success.

- Southwestern: Continued archery success for deer and antelope. Some grouse activity but numbers seem to be down. Lots of waterfowl interest.

- West-central: Good duck numbers in the area. Not many grouse reports. Some scattered snow geese along McLean County-Ward County line.

Numbers to know

- NDGF main Bismarck office: 701-328-6300; Web site: http://gf.nd.gov.

- NDGF Dickinson office: 701-227-7431.

- Report poachers: 800- 472-2121.

- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bismarck, Web site: www.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice.

Tags: dakota report, lake, sakakawea, missouri, river, north, lemmon, bowman, haley, northland, outdoors, fishing, hunting