Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes

- Sept. 1: Dove season opens.

- Sept. 3: Archery deer season opens.

- Sept. 3: Mountain lion season opens.

- Sept. 11: Partridge, sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse, and squirrel season opens.

Tournaments

- Saturday: Lake Oahe, Beaver Bay.

-Sept. 11: Lake Sakakawea, Dakota Waters Resort; Missouri River, Graner’s Bottoms.

- Sept. 11-12: Lake Sakakawea, Tobacco Garden.

Fishing

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday: 1,850.5 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: Lake Sakakawea fair for salmon on the east end. Missouri River slow. Limited activity on Lake Audubon.

- Beulah, Dakota Waters Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Wind limiting activity but those anglers going out are finding some walleye in 15 to 25 feet using Lindy rigs or spinners with nightcrawlers. A few anglers starting to use crankbaits. Most activity is around Beaver, Red Butte or Nishu bays or the intake along the north shore. Lots of nice smallmouth bass.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea continues producing a few salmon. Some walleye activity around Fort Rice and Beaver Bay on the Missouri River. Look for a switch to jigs and minnows or crankbaits.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Wind limited activity on Lake Sakakawea and area lakes over the past several days.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Some activity at Browns Springs and the beacon on Lake Sakakawea. Try crankbaits with a slow presentation in 25 to 30 feet. No reports from area lakes.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Walleye activity slowed slightly, although still fair with most activity around the beacon using Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers. Also try crankbaits. Fish are running 2 to 3 pounds.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: A few anglers going to Lake Tschida but limited reports.

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Limited activity due to recent windy weather but those going are still finding a few walleye using in the Little Missouri Arm itself.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea slowed with wind limiting activity. Those anglers going are still getting fish but move around using Lindy rigs or spinners and nightcrawlers in 18 to 25 feet along the mud lines. Also try crankbaits in deeper water. Salmon activity slowed slightly during the past week but picked up over the weekend. Try working 65 feet over variety of depths using flashers and squids or herring. Many of those taken are 10-plus pounds. Missouri River remains slow to fair. Move around to locate fish using live bait around the cable crossing, coal veins or stumps. Best success seems to be in the morning although there’s some success from shore off the rocks in the evening. No catfish, trout or salmon success yet.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Work 25 to 40 feet for walleye but wind is limiting angler numbers.

- Ray, Lund’s Landing, Whitetail Bay, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair to good scattered walleye success. Move around using crankbaits. Good for perch working the north shore from Red Mike to Lund’s Landing using nightcrawlers with some crappie mixed in. Crappie success from shore using slip bobbers and minnows or nightcrawlers.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Continued good walleye success using a variety of presentations and bait, including good success from shore.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Wind limiting activity and success is becoming spottier.

- White Earth, White Earth Bay Trading Post, Lake Sakakawea: Fair for walleye but wind limiting activity. Work 12 to 20 feet using spinners and nightcrawlers. Not much success with jigs or crankbaits yet.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Missouri River improving for walleye but windy weather limited activity on Lake Sakakawea earlier in the week. River is clear and clean. Those going to the lake are still finding occasional walleye success around Whitetail Bay and Hofflund Island.

River report

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Streamflow, 3.2 cfs; creek stage, 4.54 feet.

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

- Green River, New Hradec: Streamflow, 0.43 cfs; river stage, 5.87 feet.

- Heart River, Richardton: Streamflow, 11 cfs; river stage, 4.83 feet.

- Knife River, Manning: Streamflow, 0.95 feet; river stage, 6.08 feet.

- Little Missouri, Marmath: Streamflow, 55 cfs; river stage, 1.45 feet.

- Little Missouri, Medora: Streamflow, 137 cfs; river stage, 2.27 feet.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 8.98 feet.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 19.97 feet.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: Streamflow, 6,200 cfs; river stage, 4.59 feet.

Hunting

- Early Canada goose season: Some activity around the mid-section of Lake Sakakawea with fair success.

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