Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes

- Friday: Deer gun season opens.

- Saturday: Bobcat hunting season opens.

- Nov. 14: Unit 1 sandhill crane season closes.

Fishing

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday: 1,847.3 feet above mean sea level; 30,000 cubic feet per second Garrison Dam average daily releases.

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: No reports from Lake Sakakawea, Lake Audubon or the Missouri River.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Walleye activity on the Missouri River in the Bismarck-Mandan area working from the Rifle Range up to Bismarck with fish moving north. Some activity yet farther south at Hazelton but better success has moved closer to Bismarck.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Limited activity on Lake Sakakawea and area lakes.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Missouri River tailrace remains fair to good for nice-sized walleye casting Husky Jerks from the rocks at night. No reports from area lakes, including Lake Sakakawea.

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

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Little activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with elusive fall walleye bite so far. Missouri River continues to be OK from the boat during the day using live bait down river. Still not a full fall walleye bite yet, though. Occasional trout and salmon. Continued fair walleye success in the morning and evening casting Husky Jerks from the rocks.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Van Hook Arm remains quiet for walleye although there’s an occasional catfish.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Not many angles out but an occasional northern pike has been caught.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Continued walleye and sauger success on the Missouri River with good numbers of nice-sized fish showing up. Try Lindy rigs, crankbaits or jigs. Some activity on Lake Sakakawea but most people focusing on the river.

Hunting

- N.D. Game and Fish Department game wardens: Continued good pheasant success. Look for a busy deer gun season. Last week’s weather brought an influx of waterfowl around the east end of Lake Sakakawea but conditions could change with nicer weather.

- Northwest N.D.: Continued pheasant success but birds were bunched more during last week’s storm. Deer numbers are down. Waterfowl moved through in areas around the midsection of Lake Sakakawea.

- Southwest N.D.: Still good numbers of pheasant hunters with continued success. Look for a good deer season. Fair west river pheasant success but standing row crops still limiting success.

- West-central N.D.: Good numbers of snow geese in the area after last week’s storm, in addition to Canada geese and ducks. With smaller wetlands icing over last week, look for bigger waters to hold birds. Pheasant success remains good.

Numbers to know

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

- N.D. 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