Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Saturday: Pheasant and fall turkey seasons open.

- Oct. 23: Mink, weasel, and muskrat, trapping seasons open.

Tournaments

- Oct. 16; Missouri River, Lewis & Clark Bridge.

Fishing

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday, 1,847.9 feet above mean sea level; 30,000 cubic feet per second Garrison Dam average daily releases.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Improving walleye activity on the Missouri River with best success from the Rifle Range to the south.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Little activity on Lake Sakakawea although a few sauger taken in 40 feet and deeper using minnows. Lake Tschida fair for walleye.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea producing a few sauger around the New Town area in 20 to 27 feet using spinners or Lindy rigs and minnows. Lake Tschida fair for walleye in 10 to 20 feet using crankbaits. A few northern pike mixed in at the same depth.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Limited activity. No reports but some anglers continue going out.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Only a handful of anglers with limited reports.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Limited anglers and success on Lake Sakakawea. Work the trees and shallows along the north shore in 20 to 30 feet. Salmon spotty with mixed results with most success in the bays of Sakakawea State Park or along the intake and spillway. Try crankbaits, spoons with nightcrawlers or salmon eggs. Missouri River spotty for walleye and salmon with continued catfish success. Fair success at night from shore. Also try down river from boats during the day but bite is bit tough

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

- Ray, Lund’s Landing, Whitetail Bay, Lake Sakakawea: No reports but some anglers continue going out.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Some activity on Lake Sakakawea with limited reports of walleye and northern pike. In general, not many anglers out, though.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Missouri River improving for nice-sized walleye and sauger using minnows. Some activity on the west end of Lake Sakakawea around Lewis & Clark and Lund’s Landing for sauger with occasional walleye.

Hunting

- Northwest N.D.: Lots of moose hunting activity in the Williston area. Look for fair pheasant season for the Saturday opener.

- Southwestern N.D.: Look for a good pheasant opener Saturday. Lots of archery activity with some grouse hunters in the field.

- West-central N.D.: Good numbers of ducks in the area with fair success along with good goose success. Still mostly local birds, however a few more Canada geese are starting to filter in. Nice grouse numbers in some areas. Lots of standing crops could limit pheasant success.

Numbers to know

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

- N.D. Game and Fish Deptartment Dickinson office: 701-227-7431.

- Report All Poachers: 1-800-472-2121.

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

Tags: dakota report, outdoors