Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes

- Friday: Archery deer season opens.

- Friday: Mountain lion season opens.

- Sept. 7: Missouri River early Canada goose season closes.

- Sept. 11: Sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse, and partridge season opens.

- Sept. 15: Remainder of the early Canada goose season closes.

- Sept 17: Youth deer season opens.

- Sept. 18: Sandhill crane, woodcock, and snipe season opens.

- Sept. 18-19: Youth waterfowl season opens.

Tournaments

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

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

- Sept. 18: Lake Sakakawea, Tobacco Garden; Lake Oahe, Graner’s Bottoms; Lake Tschida.

Fishing

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday: 1,850.4 feet above mean sea level; 25,000 cubic feet per second Garrison Dam average daily releases.

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: Lake Sakakawea slow for walleye but try downriggers for salmon with some anglers finding fair success. A few walleye from the Missouri River at night from the wing walls. No reports from southwestern lakes.

- Beulah, Dakota Waters Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Weather permitting, continued walleye success in 18 to 24 feet using Lindy rigs with nightcrawlers working the north shore.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea slow for salmon but producing occasional bursts of success. Try flashers or squids. Those taken are nice-sized. Look for longlinging success to start soon. Most activity on the Missouri River is farther south on Lake Oahe although increasing activity at the Heskett Plant in the evening. Try crankbaits. Tailrace slow.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Not much activity on Lake Sakakawea but try the former Mel’s Marina in 22 to 27 feet using Lindy rigs and minnows. McKenzie Bay slow but try the beacon, slides or Whopper Island in 18 to 25 feet using Lindy rigs or spinners with minnows. Hunts Along producing occasional walleye.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Limited activity on Lake Sakakawea and area lakes.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair for walleye working deep using Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers. Try at least 25 to 30 feet.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Limited activity.

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Spotty and inconsistent walleye success with limited activity. Labor Day is the last day for the season at the resort.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea fair with scattered success. Those getting limits are working hard using a variety of techniques. Try long Lindy rigs in 20 to 30 feet. Some walleye also shallow in the trees. Try weedless hooks. Most fish seem concentrated around Mallard Island, 7 Sisters or Steinke Bay. Salmon slow but most activity is in 65 to 70 feet working that depth down to 120 feet. Try flashers and squids or herring. Missouri River is OK but best success seems to be in the morning. Also try the chutes. Some success from shore at night from the rocks. Look for improving success with increased Garrison Dam releases.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Wind and weather limited activity earlier in the week on the Van Hook Arm but anglers going to Shell Village are getting a mix of walleye and sauger.

- Ray, Lund’s Landing, Whitetail Bay, Lake Sakakawea: Spotty and inconsistent walleye success but anglers continue getting some fish.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Fewer anglers on the water but continued catfish success from shore.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Lake Sakakawea slow and spotty for walleye.

- White Earth, White Earth Bay Trading Post, Lake Sakakawea: Not much activity but anglers might want to try working deep in 35 feet with jigs and nightcrawlers or minnows.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Fishing remains somewhat sluggish on Lake Sakakawea. Try 25 to 30 feet. Yellowstone River improved earlier for sauger but slowed recently. Not many anglers on the Missouri River but those going out are getting a few walleye. Look for improving activity with stable fall weather.

Hunting

- Archery deer: Northwestern deer numbers appear to be down but look fair to good success in the river bottoms around Williston. Reminder that hunters must be in the process of leaving an area at the end of legal shooting hours and can’t be in a stand or blind after legal shooting hours. Identification must be on blinds or stands on N.D. Game & Fish Wildlife Management Areas.

- Upland: Habitat conditions are good with lots of cover in the southwest.

Numbers

- 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