Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Bow-fishing and spearfishing is closed from the Missouri River tailrace to the end of the Downstream Campground.

- Remember fish cleaning station and boat ramp etiquette.

- Fireworks not allowed on North Dakota Game and Fish Department Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges.

- Audubon, Custer Mine, Deepwater Creek, deTrobriand, Douglas Creek and Wolf Creek in McLean County; and Beaver Creek and Hille in Mercer County WMAs re-open for camping July 3 and 4 due to the holiday. Those WMAs will be closed to camping Tuesdays and Wednesdays after the 4th of July. Other Lake Sakakawea WMAs — Antelope Creek, Big Oxbow, Lewis and Clark, Neu’s Point, Ochs Point, Overlook, Sullivan and Tobacco Garden in McKenzie County; Van Hook in Mountrail County; and Hofflund and Trenton in Williams County — remain closed to all overnight camping.

- Lake Sakakawea ramps: All usable except America Legion (Raum’s), Williston. Hale Marina and Reunion Bay low water ramp unusable.

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

- July 5: Fall turkey applications due.

Tournaments

- Saturday: Lake Audubon.

- Sunday: Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

- July 7: Lake Sakakawea, Parshall Bay.

- July 14: Lake Sakakawea, Van Hook Arm; Lake Sakakawea, Wolf Creek; Nelson Lake.

Fishing

- NDGF Department District game wardens: Camels Hump, Davis and Sheep Creek dams continue producing trout and bluegill. Lake Tschida producing white bass, northern pike, and smaller walleye. Indian Creek Dam remains fair to good for perch, bluegill and various sizes of walleye. Lake Sakakawea improving for walleye with generally fair success. Try from Douglas Bay to the west, including the Van Hook Arm using spinners and nightcrawlers in a variety of depths. Missouri River hit-and-miss, although generally fair for walleye. Lake Audubon fair for walleye but inconsistent.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Lots of activity on the Missouri River with best success from Washburn to the tailrace. Sort through for keeper walleye. No salmon reports from the tailrace. Work the weed line edge on Lake Audubon trolling with spinners Crown Butte Dam fair for bass. Look for bluegill, as well. No reports from other area lakes. Devils Lake good for walleye from both boat and shore.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea turned on throughout much of the lake, including McKenzie, Mossett and Skunk bays in 7 to 11 feet using spinners with nightcrawlers or leeches. In general, much of lake is good and walleye are nice-sized. Patterson Lake remains fair for pike and perch. Lake Tschida producing smaller walleye with occasional pike. Try minnows. Camels Hump Dam good for trout with lots of activity.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea good for walleye throughout much of the lake. Try a variety of presentations and work anywhere from 4 feet down from the mouth of McKenzie Bay over to the cross, slides or Independence Point with the bigger water producing bigger fish. Van Hook Arm also good. Try trolling crankbaits on the east end humps. Good numbers of pike throughout the lake, as well. Missouri River tailrace remains good. Work deeper holes around the first coal veins. Camels Hump Dam good for trout and panfish, including bluegill. Indian Creek Dam remains good for small walleye. Work weed clumps.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Lake Sakakawea fair to good for walleye in 12 to 14 feet. Try Lindy rigs or spinners with nightcrawlers or leeches. Also try minnows in shallow water. Not many reports from Lake Audubon but those going are still finding some walleye. Missouri River remains good. Sort through for keeper walleye with bigger fish coming from the chutes in the evening and at night.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Steady walleye success using spinners and nightcrawlers or leeches in 10 to 15 feet. Most activity is along the north shore with a good evening bite. Anglers are finding numbers of small fish but many are nice-sized keMepers.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Lake Tschida slowed somewhat for walleye.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River remains good for walleye with a few more bigger fish starting to show up.

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair to good for walleye with anglers working 8 to 12 feet both directions from the resort. Try Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers or minnows. Pike success remains good.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea remains good for walleye. Try the northeast corner of Mallard Island, flats along the Highway 83 embankment, Douglas Bay and west of Sakakawea State Park. Best hours are in the morning and evening. Try jigging shallow in 3 to 6 feet off points and islands. Work deeper during the day in 20 to 30 feet. Lots of pike and smallmouth bass. Missouri River remains consistent for small walleye but sort through for keepers. Try jigs, Lindy rigs or spinners around the coal veins, Spillway inlet channel or chutes. Try plastics or crankbaits on 3-way swivels in the chutes for a mix of species. Wing walls producing catfish and a mix of other species. Best time for evening shore-fishing from the rocks varies but it seems better at later hours.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair to good walleye success throughout the Van Hook Arm. Try spinners and nightcrawlers or leeches or crankbaits in 5 to 10 feet.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Weather and wind is limiting reports but anglers are on the water when possible.

- White Earth, White Earth Bay Trading Post, Lake Sakakawea: Fair to good from shore with a mix of walleye, bass, perch and good numbers of pike and catfish. Try nightcrawlers or leeches for walleye and any presentation for the other species. Water is clearing when the wind goes down.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lots of activity on Lake Sakakawea around the Van Hook Arm. Some activity closer to Williston but not as many fish. Small area lakes, including Blacktail Dam and Springbrook Dam, are fair for walleye. The lakes are nice areas for small boats. Rafferty Dam near Estevan also producing walleye.

North Dakota rivers streamflow and river stage

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Creek stage, 3.83 feet; streamflow, 3.1 CFS.

- Cannonball River, Regent: River stage, 4.8 feet.

- Green River, New Hradec: River stage, 6.1 feet; streamflow, 0.92 CFS.

- Heart River, Richardton: River stage, 4.83 feet; streamflow, 13 CFS.

- Knife River, Manning: River stage, 6.22 feet; streamflow, 1.8 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Marmath: River stage, 1.77 feet; streamflow, 28 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Medora: River stage, 1.94 feet; streamflow, 33 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: River stage, minus 0.38 feet; streamflow, 34 CFS.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 18.72 feet.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 8.96 feet.

- Missouri River, Bismarck: Streamflow, 25,500 CFS.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: River stage, 8.35 feet; streamflow, 19,100 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