Dakota Recreation Report

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Fishing

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday: 1,841.5 feet above mean sea level with Garrison Dam average daily releases of 12,500 cubic feet per second.

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: Some boat activity on Lake Tschida.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Some activity south of Bismarck-Mandan on the Missouri River. Also try casting from shore at the Heskett Plant. Continued success in the tailrace.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Some nice-sized walleye success from Lake Tschida. Try jigs and minnows. Missouri River tailrace remains good from shore casting crankbaits at night. No reports from Lake Sakakawea.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Missouri River continues producing walleye with best success from shore at night. Some activity from the dam below Lake Tschida.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Limited activity in the Van Hook Arm with the river portion of Lake Sakakawea slowed.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Salmon and walleye activity remains light on Lake Sakakawea. Missouri River continues producing walleye during the day from boats using jigs and minnows, Lindy rigs or Gulp. Work around the coal veins and honey hole. Success remains good at night from shore using crankbaits.

- Ray, Lund’s Landing, Lake Sakakawea, Whitetail Bay: Only a few anglers on the water with limited reports.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort & Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Weather permitting, anglers are finding a few walleye.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea: Water cleared on the Missouri River with improving to good walleye success. Occasional sauger mixed in.

Hunting

- NDGF Dist. Game Wardens: Hunting reminders — deer must be tagged immediately and hunters can drive off-trail for retrieval only after animal is tagged. Mixed pheasant success in the slope region west of the Missouri River.

- Northwest: Look for a good deer season opener. Bow hunters finding increased deer movement. Hunters still finding some pheasant success though numbers are down as anticipated.

- Southwest: Lots of pheasant activity and success. Look for a good deer season with bow hunters reporting good numbers earlier.

- West-central: Good numbers of snow geese moved into northern and eastern McLean County. Good duck numbers remain in the area. Pheasant numbers remain fair to good for hunters who are willing to work for birds.

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: northland, outdoors, fishing, hunting, dakota, report