Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes

- Saturday: Grouse and partridge season opens.

- Sept. 15: Early Canada goose season closes.

- Sept. 17: Youth deer gun season opens.

- Sept. 18-19: Youth waterfowl season.

- Sept. 18: Snipe, sandhill crane, and woodcock season opens.

- Sept. 25: Resident-only waterfowl season opens.

Tournaments

- Saturday: Lake Sakakawea, Dakota Waters Resort, Missouri River, Graner’s Bottoms.

- Saturday and Sunday: Lake Sakakawea, Tobacco Garden.

- Sept. 18: Lake Oahe, Prairie Knights Marina; Lake Sakakawea, Tobacco Gardens; Lake Tschida.

Fishing

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday: 1,849.9 feet above mean sea level; 27,000 cubic feet per second Garrison Dam average daily releases.

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: Lake Sakakawea fair to good for salmon from shore casting crankbaits with lots of activity. The midsection is generally slow with spotty walleye success. Lake Tschida producing small walleye and perch. Indian Creek Dam fair for bluegill and perch.

- Beulah, Dakota Waters Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair to good for walleye, depending on the weather. Work 20 to 30 feet with spinners or Lindy rigs with nightcrawlers. Most activity remains west of the resort along both shores depending on the wind. Resort closes for the season on Sunday evening.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/Area Lakes: Not many reports from the Missouri River with better success coming from the Mobridge, S.D. area on Lake Oahe.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea generally slow although the New Town area is producing sauger in 30 to 40 feet. Try 18 to 25 feet for walleye around McKenzie Bay but overall success is slow.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: New Town area of Lake Sakakawea fair for walleye in 27 to 35 feet using Lindy rigs or spinners with heavy bottom bouncers and minnows

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Not many reports but those going are getting some scattered walleye in 35 feet and deeper.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Not many recent reports.

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair for walleye with most activity in the main lake working deep in 25 to 35 feet. Resort closed for season.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea fair for walleye in 20 to 30 feet using Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers. Also try 10 feet in the trees but bring lots of tackle. Move around with fish scattered. Look for a minnow bite soon but so far nightcrawlers are the best bait. Fair for salmon longlining in 20 to 30 feet or 60 to 70 feet with downriggers. Missouri River fair for walleye in the morning and afternoon from boats using jigs and minnows or spinners and nightcrawlers. Try crankbaits in the evening and night from shore. Fish are running in the 7- to 10-pound range.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Work deep for walleye in 40 to 50 feet around 8-Pound Flats in the Van Hook Arm. Also try 28 to 30 feet for sauger around the New Town area.

- Ray, Lund’s Landing, Whitetail Bay, Lake Sakakawea: Spotty walleye success. Try Lindy rigs and minnows with slow presentation.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Boat fishing remains somewhat slow with fair shore-fishing success.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Not much activity with somewhat slow walleye success on Lake Sakakawea.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Not many reports from Lake Sakakawea but those going are finding occasional walleye. No reports from the Missouri River.

Hunting

- Northwest North Dakota.: Fair number of doves around the midsection of Lake Sakakawea. Some early Canada goose season success yet, as well. Look for a fair upland opener.

- Southwest North Dakota: Not large numbers of doves reported in the southwest. Slow to fair opening weekend for elk and archery deer. Look for a fair grouse opener.

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, fishing