Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes

- Sept. 1: Dove season opens.

- Sept. 3: Archery deer season opens.

- Sept. 3: Mountain lion season opens.

Tournaments

- Saturday: Lake Sakakawea, Sakakawea State Park; Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort.

Fishing

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday: 1,850.7 feet above mean sea level; 16,000 cubic feet per second Garrison Dam average daily releases.

-North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game wardens: Southwestern lakes weedy but Camels Hump Dam producing some bluegill.

- Beulah, Dakota Waters Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Continued walleye success, weather permitting. Try 15 to 20 feet using Lindy rigs or spinners with nightcrawlers working Beaver, Nishu and Red Butte bays. Continued good success for nice-sized smallmouth bass with some northern pike mixed in.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Look for salmon activity on Lake Sakakawea. Move around on the Missouri River with spotty success. Try Sweetbriar Dam for muskie.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Try Brown Springs or Scoria Flats in McKenzie Bay on Lake Sakakawea in 12 to 18 feet using nightcrawlers. Also try the cross and Whopper Island in 22 to 28 feet using minnows. Most success around Skunk Bay is in 18 to 22 feet using minnows. Some activity around New Town and Antelope Flats. Lake Tschida has walleye activity below the dam using Husky jerks. Try 8 to 15 feet on the lake itself with spinners and nightcrawlers.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Tschida fair for walleye using spinners or No. 5 crankbaits. Try the west slides on Lake Sakakawea in 12 to 25 feet using Lindy rigs or jigs. Independence Point has walleye activity in 12 to 20 feet using Lindy rigs.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: More walleye activity taking place along the north shore from Pepsi Point towards the beacon. Work shallow with the wind or deeper on calm days with spinners or long Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers, the slower the better.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Not as many anglers on the lake and those going are finding slower success.

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair to good but inconsistent walleye success. Try 14 to 22 feet with more people working the deeper water on calmer days.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Audubon slow. Try spinners with nightcrawlers. Lake Sakakawea has continued walleye activity. Try Lindy rigs or spinners with nightcrawlers in 28 to 40 feet. Continued salmon success around Government Bay in 65 to 90 feet over 120 feet. Try flashers and squids or herring. Missouri River remains fair to good but slowed during the day. Try nightcrawlers or spinners with Lindy rigs. Overall better success from both boat and shore seems to be at night.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Wind limited activity over the weekend but those going during the week are finding some walleye success in 30 to 40 feet using spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers. Try Rodeo, Fox Island or 8-Pound Flats.

- Ray, Lund’s Landing, Whitetail Bay, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair to good for walleye. Try 15 feet with spinners and nightcrawlers. Move around with success throughout much of the area.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Continued walleye success in between weather fronts. Some shore-fishing success, as well.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Improving walleye success on Lake Sakakawea with fish moving farther west, including as far as Long Creek. Look for better activity soon on the Missouri River itself.

River report

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Streamflow, 2.6 cfs; creek stage, 4.49 feet.

- Cannonball River, Regent: Streamflow, 3.5 cfs; river stage, 1.77 feet.

- Green River, New Hradec: Streamflow, 1 cfs; river stage, 6.3 feet.

- Heart River, Richardton: Streamflow, 16 cfs; river stage, 4.94 feet.

- Knife River, Manning: Streamflow, 1.3 cfs; river stage, 6.15 feet.

- Little Missouri, Marmath: Streamflow, 7.5 cfs; river stage, 1.57 feet.

- Little Missouri, Medora: Streamflow, 139 cfs; river stage, 2.28 feet.

- Little Missouri, Long X: Unavailable.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 9.44 feet.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 20.66 feet.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: Streamflow, 8,360 cfs; river stage, 5.28 feet.

Numbers

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

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department Dickinson office: 701-227-7431.

- Report poachers: 800-472-2121.

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

Tags: dakota report, outdoors, fishing, hunting