Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes

- Saturday: Resident waterfowl season opener.

- Oct. 2: Nonresident waterfowl season opener.

- Oct. 2-3: Youth pheasant season.

- Oct. 9: Pheasant and fall turkey season openers.

Tournaments

- Saturday: Missouri River, Rifle Range.

- Oct. 2: Nelson Lake.

Fishing

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday: 1,848.9 feet above mean sea level; 26,900 cubic feet per second Garrison Dam average daily releases.

- N.D. Game and Fish Deptartment District Game Wardens: Lake Sakakawea fair for 5- to 10-pound salmon from shore. Missouri River tailrace producing some trout. Releases are high, which is limiting walleye fishing. Reminders that new rules requiring live wells be drained of water before leaving a water body become effective Oct. 1. New regulations regarding PLOTS areas now require daily removal of tree stands, decoys, and other hunting items also effective Oct. 1. Trees stand must be identified when used on Game and Fish Wildlife Management Areas.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River tailrace starting to produce some salmon using Mepps spinners or casting spoons. Success slow around Bismarck-Mandan. Lake Sakakawea also has salmon activity in shallower water. Most success comes from longlining crankbaits or casting Mepps or spoons from shore.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Limited activity on Lake Sakakawea, although a few anglers working the New Town area and finding sauger in 40-plus feet.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/Area Lakes: Lake Sakakawea producing salmon in 35 feet with bigger fish still coming in deeper water. Try longlining crankbaits. Look for a crankbait bite to start improving for walleye, as well.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Not many anglers on the water but try working east and west of the resort with crankbaits.

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

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Lots of water in the Missouri River with muddy water conditions.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea has limited walleye success. Try 10 to 15 feet in the trees or 20 to 30 feet with Lindy rigs or jigs. Salmon remain fair to good with fish coming from all depths using downriggers in 60 feet, longlining in 35 feet up to shallow water or shallow from shore. Missouri River starting to produce more walleye, salmon, and trout. Lots of water moving through. Look for continued improving fall bite. Try live bait during the day from boat or crankbaits from shore off the rocks at night.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea:

- Ray, Lund’s Landing, Whitetail Bay, Lake Sakakawea: Fair for sauger in deeper water using jigs and minnows with northern pike, bass, and catfish mixed in. Limited walleye success. Lots of forage fish showing up.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Fair for walleye with northern pike mixed in.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Limited activity on Lake Sakakawea.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea fair for sauger with a few walleye mixed in. Work deep. Missouri River improving. Locate the clearest water. Look for fall bite on the river to continue improving as water continues clearing.

Hunting

- Northwest N.D.: Cool weather moving doves out. Mixed grouse success. Look for a good waterfowl season opener with good duck numbers in the area.

- West-central N.D.: Some youth deer season activity. Occasional swan starting to move through central N.D. with sandhill cranes also migrating.

- Southwestern N.D.: Lots of hunting activity with nice success for youth deer hunters and bow hunters. Grouse success spotty although hunters seem to find better numbers in the southwest and west. Remember 3F2 deer season restrictions. See regulations for details.

Numbers to know

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

- 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