Dakota Recreation Report

Talk about it

Outdoor notes

- Paddlefish season now closed.

- Sunday: Spring turkey season closes.

- May 28: Memorial Day.

Tournaments

- Fri. and Sat.: Missouri River.

- Saturday: Missouri River; Fort Rice, Nelson Lake.

Fishing

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District game wardens: Missouri River remains good for walleye. Limited activity on west-central area lakes. Camels Hump Dam continues producing trout. Lots of small perch and walleye from Indian Creek Dam. Missouri River remains fair for walleye. Lake Audubon starting to produce to some walleye.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Continued fair to good walleye success on the Missouri River using jigs and minnows, crankbaits or plastics but the size is much smaller. Work north and south of Bismarck with bigger fish closer to the North Dakota-South Dakota border.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Increasing activity on Lake Sakakawea but success is still somewhat limited. Good numbers of pike throughout much of the lake, however walleye remain slow. Look for some smaller walleye in the bays. Try 25 feet in Skunk Bay for sauger using jigs. Missouri River remains good for small walleye. Try jigs with minnows or plastics around Bismarck. Patterson Lake fair to good for pike with many in the 4-pound range. Camels Hump Dam continues producing trout.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Missouri River remains good but walleye are running smaller. Look for bite to improve after the post-spawn lull lets up. Try to locate clear water on Lake Sakakawea in 5 to 15 feet using Lindy rigs or jigs and minnows working around the mouth of McKenzie Bay out towards the slides. Skunk Bay also producing towards the mouth and down to Independence. Camels Hump Dam remains fair to good for trout along the shore. Look for them to move deeper with warmer water temperatures and vegetation growth.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Lake Audubon starting to produce a few walleye and nice-sized smallmouth bass. Move around and try humps and points with various presentations. Lake Sakakawea producing a few sauger and walleye along the Riverdale Bluffs in 20 to 60 feet using jigs and minnows. Start working the east end humps and back bays with water temperatures starting to warm. Missouri River continues producing good numbers of small walleye. Sort through for the keepers.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: A few anglers are starting to get on the water but reports are limited. Regular hours begin May 25. Docks are in place.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Lots of activity on the Missouri River south of Bismarck. Lake Tschida producing a mix of species with overall fair success.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Continued walleye success on the Missouri River with improving success with spinners and nightcrawlers. Fish remain on the small side with occasional bigger ones showing up.

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Anglers finding a few walleye around the mouth using jigs or in the bay using Lindy rigs or spinners. Not many on the water, however.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Little activity and reports from Lake Sakakawea, although look for small pike to remain active yet. Missouri River boat anglers are jigging or crankbaiting for walleye down river. Spawn seems to be winding down. Most success from shore is at the wing walls for small walleye with some trout and salmon mixed in.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Walleye haven’t warmed up much yet, although anglers are finding a few. Excellent pike success, however, with many large ones taken. Try smelt or casting spoons from shore.

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

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lots of pike in the backwaters, including Trenton Lake, Muddy and Skunk Hole. Lake Sakakawea OK in spots for walleye using jigs. Yellowstone River is clearing somewhat so look for improving walleye success. No reports from small area lakes.

Missouri River

ramp status

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

North Dakota rivers streamflow and river stage

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Creek stage, 3.47 feet; streamflow, 0.31 CFS.

- Cannonball River, Regent: River stage, 1.66 feet; streamflow, 9.5 CFS.

- Green River, New Hradec: River stage, 6.29 feet; streamflow, 1.9 CFS.

- Heart River, Richardton: River stage, 5.01 feet; streamflow, 21 CFS.

- Knife River, Manning: River stage, 6.29 feet; streamflow, 3.4 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Marmath: River stage, 2.1 feet; streamflow, 226 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Medora: River stage, 2.17 feet.

- Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: River stage, minus 0.07 feet; streamflow, 103 CFS.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 15.29 feet.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 9.52 feet.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Montana: River stage, 6.79 feet; streamflow, 12,200 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