Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor Notes:

- Fri. and Sat.: National Archery in the Schools state tournament, Bismarck.

- Friday: Dunn County Ducks Unlimited, 5:30 p.m., Buckskin Bar, Killdeer.

- Saturday: Teddy Roosevelt Mule Deer Foundation, Dickinson.

- Saturday: Spring turkey season opens.

- Sunday: Earth Day.

- April 21: Youth shooting and hunting grant program applications due to North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Fishing:

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, April 10: 1,837.4 feet above mean sea level; 27,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) Garrison Dam average daily releases.

- NDGF Department District game wardens: Missouri River remains fair to good for walleye. More smaller fish starting to show up. Remember any fish released from the wing walls must be lowered with baskets. Work deeper holes for northern pike. Lake Sakakawea fair from shore for pike. Shorelines remain soft and mushy.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River remains good for walleye from Fort Rice and Hazelton, working to the south. Good numbers of pike, as well.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Mel’s Marina continues producing pike from shore using larger smelt on Lake Sakakawea. Most fish seemed to have spawned. Mossett, McKenzie or Ski bays also producing pike. A few boats going to Independence and finding a few walleye. Try pitching jigs along the shoreline. Camels Hump remains good for trout. Patterson Lake fair for smaller pike from shore. Heart River in Dickinson producing a mix of species.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Windy weather limiting activity on Lake Sakakawea. However, pike success remains fair to good for smelt. Try the east end west to Douglas Bay. Missouri River continues producing walleye and pike.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Little activity due to windy, cool conditions.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Continued good on the Missouri River around Fort Rice and Hazelton. Try jigs or crankbaits.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Continued pike success on Lake Sakakawea from shore using smelt with a bobber off the bottom or crankbaits or spoons. Missouri River remains fair to good from shore and boats. Try jigs and minnows or plastics from boat around the pilot channel around the spillway, cable crossing or coal veins. Jigs and minnows are working from the wing walls or try crankbaits from the rocks.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Wind limiting activity, even from shore. Weather permitting, try Shell Bay from shore for pike or up river for walleye from boats. A few smelt starting to show up but it’s limited so far.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Continued pike success from shore on Lake Sakakawea.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Cool, windy weather slowing activity. Missouri River starting to muddy up although the Yellowstone River is clearing so look for that to start producing soon. Limited reports from Lake Sakakawea although some anglers are reporting a few pike with smelt.

North Dakota rivers streamflow and

river stage:

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Creek stage, 3.6 feet; streamflow 1 CFS.

- Cannonball River, Regent: River stage, 1.65 feet; streamflow, 9.2 CFS.

- Green River, New Hradec: River stage, 6.41 feet; streamflow, 3.2 CFS.

- Heart River, Richardton: River stage, 4.21 feet; streamflow, 5.4 CFS.

- Knife River, Manning: River stage, 6.43 feet; streamflow, 5.1 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Marmarth: streamflow, 89 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Medora: streamflow, 98 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: River stage, 0.38 feet.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 14.86 feet.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 10.32 feet.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Montana: River stage, 5.78 feet; streamflow, 8,380 CFS.

Turkey hunting:

- Use caution with extreme fire danger throughout North Dakota.

Numbers to know:

- NDGF Department main Bismarck office: 701-328-6300; website (http://gf.nd.gov).

- NDGF Department Dickinson office: 701-227-7431.

- Report All Poachers: 800-472-2121.

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

Patricia Stockdill

Tags: dakota recreation report, outdoors