Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Deer applications now available.

- May 20: Spring turkey season closes.

Tournaments

- Friday: Missouri River, Hazelton.

- Saturday: Nelson Lake.

- May 17: Missouri River boat safety day (free), Moritz Marine, 3 p.m.

- May 18 and 19: Missouri River.

- May 19: Missouri River, Fort Rice; Nelson Lake.

Fishing

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District game wardens: West-central lakes remain slow. No reports from the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Fair catfish success from shore at Parshall Bay. Missouri River seems to be slowing somewhat for walleye. Paddlefish success is good but be aware of media releases for the season to potentially close early.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Weather permitting, continued activity on the Missouri River. Look for fish to move with changing river levels. Try casting spoons for pike on small area lakes, including Cherry Lake or Moffitt Creek.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Continued walleye success using jigs or plastics on the Missouri River south of Bismarck. Mel’s Marina on Lake Sakakawea continues producing pike using smelt. Camels Hump Dam remains fair for trout. Patterson Lake producing smaller perch and pike.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Missouri River remains fair to good from Stanton to Fort Rice. Work shallow in 3 to 10 feet pitching jigs with minnows or vertical jigging with minnows. Lake Sakakawea producing a few walleye around Mossett and McKenzie bays and Tunnel Point. Lake Tschida fair to good for small walleye. Camels Hump Dam remains fair to good for trout.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Limited activity on Lake Sakakawea but some pike and walleye success continues from shore, weather permitting. Missouri River remains fair to good.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Limited activity but ramp and docks are in place.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River remains fair to good for walleye, although fish are running a little smaller. Try jigs or Lindy rigs with minnows. Work shallow water for bigger fish.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Missouri River remains fair to good for walleye from boats using jigs and minnows or crankbaits. Good numbers of small fish with some bigger keepers mixed in. A smattering of trout and salmon mixed in, as well. Best shore success is from the wing walls using jigs and minnows or plastics. Lake Sakakawea slow.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Little activity until weather and water temperatures improve.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait and Tackle: Shore-fishing success continues for pike with some nice-sized fish being taken. Try smelt or Dardevles. Look for some walleye success with warmer water temperatures.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Limited reports from Lake Sakakawea. Paddlefish snaggers having good success.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Look for paddlefish season to close early as harvest total nears maximum number. Weather over the past week limiting other fishing activity.

Missouri River ramps

- All ramps usable, although Hoge’s Island ramp is marginal and Maclean Bottoms ramp is closed. Kimball Bottoms ramps is slide-in metal.

North Dakota rivers streamflow and river stage

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Creek stage, 3.88 feet; streamflow, 5 CFS.

- Cannonball River, Regent: River stage, 1.86 feet; streamflow, 16 CFS.

- Green River, New Hradec: New Hradec: 6.46 feet; streamflow, 3.7 CFS.

- Heart River, Richardton: River stage, 5.37 feet; streamflow, 45 CFS.

- Knife River, Manning: River stage, 6.56 feet; streamflow, 7.3 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Marmath: River stage, 2.31 feet.

- Little Missouri River, Medora: River stage, 2.43 feet.

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

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 15.87 feet.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 9.88 feet.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Montana: River stage, 6.55 feet; streamflow, 11,300

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