Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Saturday through Monday: Sky Dance Sakakawea Kite Festival, Fort Stevenson State Park.

- June 2: Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge Kid’s Fishing Day, 9:30 a.m. registration.

- June 2 and 3: Free fishing weekend.

- June 6: Deer gun, muzzleloader and landowner applications due.

Tournaments

- June 2: Missouri River, Garrison Dam tailrace; Lake Audubon, East Totten Trail, Lake Oahe; Cattail Bay.

- June 9 and 10: Lake Oahe, Langeliers Bay.

- June 9: Lake Oahe, Beaver Bay.

Fishing

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District game wardens: Lake Tschida producing some northern pike and occasional small walleye. Some crappie success from shore. No other reports from southwestern North Dakota Riverdale bluffs producing a few sauger on Lake Sakakawea. Missouri River continues producing small walleye from boats or the wing walls. Slower farther down river.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River continues producing excellent numbers of small walleye. Work farther south near the border for bigger fish. McDowell Dam producing bluegill and bass. Some activity at Sweetbriar Dam but limited reports.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea remains somewhat slow, although lots of anglers going out at Mel’s Marina. Skunk Bay and Bear Den producing sauger in 25 to 30 feet using jigs and minnows. New Town Marina area producing a few walleye using crankbaits or Lindy rigs. Lots of small walleye success on the Missouri River around Bismarck using jigs and minnows. Patterson Lake fair to good for 2- to 5-pound pike using smelt or casting lures. Some perch mixed in, as well. Lake Ilo fair for small pike with some perch. Camels Hump Dam remains good for trout. Lake Tschida fair for small walleye with some nice crappie along the weed beds using jigs and minnows or plastics.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Missouri River remains good throughout much of the river with some bigger fish now showing up. Try vertical jigging or pitching jigs and minnows behind sandbars in slack water. Lake Sakakawea producing a few walleye working from Tunnel Point to the mouth in 15 to 25 feet using jigs or Lindy rigs and minnows. Sweetbriar Dam and Lake Tschida fair for small walleye. Patterson Lake producing decent-sized pike from boat and shore casting spoons.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Lake Audubon starting to produce a few walleye and nice-sized smallmouth bass. Move around, including along the east end embankment, 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 keepers.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: A few more anglers on the water but reports remain limited.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Lake Tschida fair for walleye and pike. Try nightcrawlers.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Continued good success for small walleye on the Missouri River with increasing activity around Double Ditch, Sanger and to the north.

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Not much activity yet but those anglers going out are finding a few walleye around the mouth using jigs or in the bay using Lindy rigs or spinners.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Limited reports from Lake Sakakawea other than good numbers of small pike. Missouri River remains good for small walleye using jigs and live bait, plastics or crankbaits. Sort through for keepers. A variety of species coming from the wing walls. Try working a light jig off the rocks from shore in the evening or crankbaits but shore success is spotty.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Slow but spotty walleye success in the Van Hook Arm. Try 10 feet using jigs or Lindy rigs and minnows. Look for improving success with warmer water temperatures. Continued pike success from shore.

North Dakota rivers streamflow and river stage

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Creek stage, 3.41 feet; streamflow, 0.07 CFS.

- Cannonball River, Regent: River stage, 1.59 feet; streamflow, 7.4 CFS.

- Green River, New Hradec: River stage, 6.22 feet; streamflow, 1.4 CFS.

- Heart River, Richardton: River stage, 5.05 feet; streamflow, 23 CFS.

- Knife River, Manning: River stage, 6.24 feet; streamflow, 2.9 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Marmath: River stage, 2.09 feet; streamflow, 221 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Medora: River stage, 2.11 feet.

- Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: River stage, minus 0.16 feet; streamflow, 76 CFS.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 17.82 feet.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 9.62 feet.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: River stage, 9.1 feet; streamflow, 22,800 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, outdoors