Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Fall turkey applications now available.

- Lake Sakakawea ramps: All ramps usable although American Legion (Raums at Williston) is marginal. Hale Marina and Reunion Bay low water ramps are unusable.

- Missouri River ramps: All ramps usable except Sibley Island and MacLean Bottoms.

- June 22 and 23: Free nature photography workshop with David Astin, Cross Ranch State Park, Hensler. Call to RSVP, 701-794-8741, or email erosenquist@tnc.org, for more information.

Tournaments

- Saturday: Lake Tschida.

Fishing

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District game wardens: No reports from southwestern area lakes. Lake Sakakawea and Missouri River hit-and-miss for walleye. Try 7 Sisters or the U.S. Highway 83 embankment. Parshall Bay producing some catfish.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Continued good walleye success on the Missouri River with bigger fish coming farther north around Stanton and Wilton. Small area lakes continue producing pike. McDowell Dam fair for bluegill with some smaller largemouth bass.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Weather permitting, anglers are finding improving walleye success on Lake Sakakawea with the bite switching to spinners with nightcrawlers or leeches. Camels Hump Dam continues producing trout. Patterson Lake remains good for pike from shore casting spoons or using smelt. Indian Creek Dam producing smaller walleye and nice-sized perch. Lake Tschida fair to good for smaller walleye with nice crappie mixed in.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea producing walleye. Try 8 to 12 feet using Lindy rigs with nightcrawlers around McKenzie Bay or in the Little Missouri Arm itself. Water levels increasing and muddying up slightly but fish still seem shallow. Look for continued Missouri River success. Camels Hump Dam good for decent-sized trout. Try casting small in-line spinners or crankbaits from shore.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Weather permitting, anglers continue finding a mix of walleye, pike and sauger on Lake Sakakawea. Good numbers of perch in a mix of sizes, as well. Try variety of presentations in various depth from U.S. Highway 83 embankment west to Douglas Bay. Lake Audubon remains fair for walleye in various depths with a variety of presentations. Move around. Missouri River also remains good from both boat and shore.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Fair walleye success using spinners with nightcrawlers. Best activity continues along the south side around the pump house or from Red Butte Bay working the point towards the west, such as Medicine Stone and towards McKenzie Bay. Try 13 to 15 feet.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Lots of activity but limited reports from Lake Tschida.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Continued good for small walleye on the Missouri River.

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Try 8 to 12 feet for walleye using Lindy rigs or spinners with nightcrawlers or minnows. Work both directions from the resort. Continued pike success throughout the area.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Continued walleye success on the east end around Mallard Island on Lake Sakakawea. Try jigs or Lindy rigs with minnows or nightcrawlers. Pike success remains throughout the lake. Missouri River remains good for walleye using jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers. Also try crankbaits. Lots of small fish. Sort through for keepers. Shore anglers continue finding success for a mix of species from the rocks, shore at the ramp or downstream at the campground. Try plastics or live baits with morning and evening success coming with crankbaits from the rocks.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Weather permitting, anglers are finding fair to good walleye success in the Van Hook Arm. Try crankbaits in the upper end of the Arm in the wind or Lindy rigs or spinners with nightcrawlers or leeches 10 to 12 feet on calmer days.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Continued good pike success around Tobacco Garden and New Town with improving walleye activity.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Weather permitting, anglers are going out with mixed success. Try a variety of presentations.

- White Earth, White Earth Bay Trading Post, Lake Sakakawea: A few walleye but anglers generally waiting for better and warmer weather.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: White Earth Bay on Lake Sakakawea dirtied up with limited success. The river is dropping in the Williston area but few reports. Look for water clarity to improve and improving fishing to follow.

North Dakota rivers streamflow and river stage

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Creek stage, 4 feet; streamflow, 5.7 CFS.

- Cannonball River, Regent: River stage, 4.87 feet.

- Green River, New Hradec: River stage, 6.17 feet; streamflow, 1.1 CFS.

- Heart River, Richardton: River stage, 5.71 feet; streamflow, 74 CFS.

- Knife River, Manning: River stage, 6.63 feet; streamflow, 8.7 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Marmath: River stage, 1.93 feet; streamflow, 49 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Medora: River stage, 1.98 feet; streamflow, 61 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: River stage, minus 0.23 feet; streamflow, 59 CFS.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 20.47 feet.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 9.46 feet.

- Missouri River, Bismarck: Streamflow, 26,900 CFS.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Montana: River stage, 10.2 feet; streamflow, 27,700 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