Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Saturday: Muddy Buck Mule Deer Foundation banquet, Airport International Inn, 5 pm., Williston.

Tournaments

- Saturday: Missouri River, Southport/Lakewood.

- May 11: Missouri River, Hazelton.

- May 12: Nelson Lake.

Fishing

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District game wardens: Limited reports from Lake Sakakawea although a few northern pike are still showing up from shore. Try casting crankbaits. Walleye remain slow and water temperatures remain cool. Missouri River slowed down.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Lots of activity continues on the Missouri River. Limited reports from small area lakes although there’s some pike activity along area backwaters and creeks. Try smelt.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Missouri River remains good in the Bismarck-Mandan area. Camels Hump Dam remains good for trout using variety of presentations. Try smelt or casting spoons from shore for small pike at Patterson Lake.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Missouri River remains good for walleye with more anglers on Lake Sakakawea, as well. Walleye remain slow but fair to good pike success. Try the Tunnel Point area. Camels Hump Dam continues producing trout and bass. Bow-fishing for carp is now open.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Missouri River remains fair to good for walleye. Wind and weather limited angler activity late last week but look for more pike success as more anglers get out.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Docks and ramp in place with on-the-water gas available May 25. Limited fishing so far.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Missouri River remains good for walleye south of Mandan. Lake Tschida slow with limited anglers on the water.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Continued walleye success on the Missouri River with most anglers still working south of Bismarck. However, success continues from Fox Island to the north.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Continued fair to good for pike on Lake Sakakawea using smelt, spoons or crankbaits. Good numbers of smaller fish. Missouri River remains fair to good for eater-sized walleye from boats with a few trout and salmon mixed in. Some pike success from the wing walls using jigs and minnows.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Van Hook Arm has a few anglers on the water but success is still slow.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Limited activity on Lake Sakakawea with the start of paddlefish season.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Shorelines are muddy and messy for the start of the paddlefish season. Yellowstone River is coming up so walleye fishing is slow. Lake Sakakawea producing a few walleye. Look for improving activity as spawn winds down and water temperatures warm.

Missouri River

boat ramp status

- All ramps usable except Hoge’s Island, Sibley Park and Maclean Bottoms. Kimball Bottoms ramp is slide-in metal.

North Dakota rivers streamflow and

river stage

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Creek stage, 3.83 feet; streamflow, 4 CFS.

- Cannonball, Regent: River stage, 1.83 feet; streamflow, 15 CFS.

- Green River, North Hradec: River stage, 6.65 feet; streamflow, 7.4 CFS.

- Heart River, Richardton: River stage, 5.57 feet; streamflow, 61 CFS.

- Knife River, Manning: River stage, 6.82 feet; streamflow, 13 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Marmath: River stage, 2.67 feet.

- Little Missouri River, Medora: River stage, 2.78 feet.

- Little Missouri River, Long X: River stage, 0.21 feet.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 16.94 feet.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 9.97 feet.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Montana: River stage, 8.45 feet; streamflow, 19,600 CFS.

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: rec report, dakota recreation report, outdoors