Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes

- Saturday: Mink, muskrat and weasel trapping seasons open.

- Nov. 1: Woodcock season closes.

- Nov. 1: McDowell Dam & Lightning Lake closed to fishing through March 31.

- Nov. 5: Deer gun season opens.

Fishing

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday: 1,846.44 feet above mean sea level; 30,100 cubic feet per second Garrison Dam average daily releases.

r North Dakota Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: Improving perch and walleye success on Lake Tschida. Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon slow. Missouri River tailrace producing some trout and salmon from shore at night casting crankbaits off the rocks.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Most activity on the Missouri River is south of Bismarck-Mandan working down to the border. Some nice-sized walleye with smaller ones mixed in with overall fair success. Good numbers of nice-sized white bass around Fort Rice. Try the backwaters for northern pike. Salmon activity on Lake Sakakawea slowing down but a few are being taken in the back bays.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea remains generally slow although anglers finding a few sauger in 40 to 50 feet. Lake Tschida remains strong for small walleye. Shadehill Reservoir good for walleye using Lindy rigs with minnows. Camel Hump Dam continues to be good for trout.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea producing sauger north of New Town using jigs and minnows. Lake Tschida remains good for walleye using small crankbaits in 15 to 27 feet.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Some activity but no reports on success.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River remains fair to good but inconsistent for walleye.

r Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Not much activity on Lake Sakakawea but try working deep water in 40 feet with spinners with bottom bouncers or crankbaits for walleye. Spotty salmon success with boat success slowing down. Try variety of presentations from shore, including crankbaits or salmon eggs. Lots of anglers after salmon, though, and they’re seeing fish but the bite is tough. Missouri River is mediocre at best for walleye but good numbers of catfish. Try a night bite from shore with crankbaits for the best walleye success. A few walleye taken down river from boat, though. Try trolling the tailrace with crankbaits for a mix of walleye and catfish. Water temperatures are warm on the lake and river.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Not much walleye activity in the Van Hook Arm although a sauger being taken in the river portion of Lake Sakakawea.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: A few more walleye starting to show up with some shore-fishing success.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Look for the Yellowstone River to clear up soon with improved fishing. Not many reports from Lake Sakakawea. Best fishing is probably in the river.

Hunting

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: Remember to leave identification on waterfowl and upland birds.

- Northwest N.D.: Continued fair to good pheasant success in the Williston area. Improving numbers of lesser Canada geese around the midsection of Lake Sakakawea with fair grouse and pheasant success.

- Southwest N.D.: Pheasant numbers remain strong south and west of Interstate-94. West river hunters finding fair success.

- West-central N.D.: Mixed pheasant success with hunters finding good bird numbers in some areas and other areas slower. Some pockets of waterfowl moving in but no widespread migration with fair success. Good numbers of local ducks remain in some areas.

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 and Wildlife Service, Bismarck, website: www.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice.

Tags: dakota report, outdoors