Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Fall turkey applications now available.

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

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

- Friday and Saturday: Nature photography workshop, Cross Ranch State Park. Free with park pass. Call Eric at Cross Ranch Nature Preserve, 701-794-8741, to pre-register or for more information.

- Saturday: Great American Campout Day.

Tournaments

- Saturday and Sunday: Lake Audubon.

- Saturday: Lake Sakakawea, Parshall Bay; Lake Oahe, Beaver Bay.

Fishing

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District game wardens: Lake Tschida continues producing small walleye. Sheep Creek producing nice bluegill from shore with some small crappie mixed in. Lake Sakakawea fair to good for walleye around Indian Hills and the east end. Missouri River continues producing small walleye from both boat and shore. The Souris River through Minot is fair for walleye. Outlet Fishing Area and downstream of Lake Darling Dam also producing walleye activity.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River remains good for walleye with a slight improvement in size. Most activity is at the tailrace or south in Lake Oahe around the Mobridge, S.D. area. Some nice catfish mixed in. Tailrace also producing salmon and trout in the chutes and from shore.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Wind and weather permitting, anglers continue finding walleye on Lake Sakakawea in 7 to 17 feet using Lindy rigs or spinners and nightcrawlers around McKenzie Bay and Mel’s Marina. Van Hook Arm good for walleye using jigs and minnows. Camels Hump Dam continues producing good trout numbers. Patterson Lake fair for pike from shore using spoons or smelt. Some catfish mixed in, as well. Indian Creek fair for small walleye and perch. Look for Lake Tschida to continue producing small walleye.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea continues producing walleye in 4 to 15 feet using Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers. Try McKenzie Bay and the points out to the mouth of the Little Missouri River Arm. Also try deep crankbaits for sauger. Look for them suspended in about 40 feet. Camels Hump and Davis dams producing nice trout. Try small spoons or Mepps spinners. Lake Tschida continues producing small walleye. Sort through for any keepers. Missouri River tailrace chutes fair to good in the evening for a variety of fish. Also try downstream of the spillway during the day for walleye.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Inconsistent weather patterns creating inconsistent fishing success on Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon. Missouri River remains fair to good for walleye with best success coming from boats.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: More anglers working the north side of the lake. Try shallow with spinners and nightcrawlers for some nice-sized walleye.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Lake Tschida continues to be good for walleye.

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

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Fair to good for walleye. Try 6 to 12 feet using Lindy rigs with a variety of bait. Move around with success throughout much of the area.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea producing walleye. Try 7 Sisters, around Mallard Island and the flats along the U.S. Highway embankment casting jigs and minnows up into the shallows, Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers or crankbaits. Other areas to try include points around Sakakawea State Park and Douglas Bay points. Good numbers of smallmouth bass in the bays. Missouri River continues producing small walleye throughout the day using jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and leeches. Also try crankbaits. Shore anglers finding good numbers of pike but walleye are more of a struggle. Try crankbaits. Wing walls also producing success.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Van Hook Arm turned on for walleye. Try the north end of the Arm with Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers working shallow in 5 to 12 feet.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: McKenzie Bay and the New Town area of Lake Sakakawea are producing walleye with continued pike activity at Tobacco Garden.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Weather fronts are creating spotty success for pike with somewhat limited walleye activity.

North Dakota rivers streamflow and river stage

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Creek stage, 3.71 feet; streamflow, 1.7 CFS.

- Cannonball River, Regent: River stage, 5.13 feet.

- Green River, New Hradec: River stage, 6.09 feet; streamflow, 0.75 CFS.

- Heart River, Richardton: River stage, 4.11 feet; streamflow, 1.7 CFS.

- Knife River, Manning: River stage, 6.28 feet; streamflow, 3.3 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Marmath: River stage, 1.99 feet; streamflow, 58 CFS.

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

- Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: River stage, minus 0.18 feet; streamflow, 71 CFS.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 18.96 feet.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 9.41 feet.

- Missouri River, Bismarck: Streamflow, 27,000 CFS.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: River stage, 8.9 feet; streamflow, 21,800 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/northdakota fieldoffice).

Patricia Stockdill

Tags: rec report, dakota recreation report, outdoors