Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Burning Coal Vein campground, 28 miles south of Medora, now re-opened but Buffalo Gap campground west of Medora has limited water supplies.

- Saturday: Fall crow season opens.

- Saturday: Dog Days of Summer, Cross Ranch State Park, Hensler.

- Aug. 14: Fur Harvester Education course, North Dakota Game and Fish Department Pre-register on the Game and Fish website, (gf.nd.gov), click “Online Services” and “Online Course Enrollment”.

- Aug. 15: Swan applications due.

- Aug. 15: Early Canada goose season opens.

Tournaments

- Saturday: Lake Sakakawea; White Earth Bay.

- Aug. 18: Sheep Creek Dam, Nelson Lake, Upper Missouri River; Lewis and Clark Bridge, Lake Sakakawea; Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea; Sakakawea State Park.

Fishing

- NDGF Department District game wardens: No reports from southwestern area lakes. Lots of northern pike with spotty walleye success from New Town Marina to Beaver Bay on Lake Sakakawea.

- Beulah, Dakota Waters Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair to good for walleye. Work deeper in 25 feet along main lake points. Good success for nice-sized smallmouth bass.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Increasing salmon reports from Lake Sakakawea with fair walleye success. Herring is generally now more available but also try spoons behind downriggers or flashers and squids. Better success on the Missouri River is from Hazelton north to Double Ditch or the tailrace with success slower around the N.D. to S.D. border.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Fewer reports from Lake Sakakawea but those going continue finding good walleye success in 18 to 25 feet using spinners or Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers throughout much of the lake. Lake Tschida slowed and the lake turned. Camels Hump Dam continues producing trout, bluegill and nice bass. Patterson Lake remains fair for pike from shore with 12- to 14-inch walleye. Indian Creek Dam fair for small walleye. Try crankbaits for bigger fish. Limited reports from Bowman-Haley Dam.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Missouri River tailrace remains good for walleye trolling crankbaits. Try shallow water on Lake Sakakawea for walleye using spinners or Lindy rigs with leeches or nightcrawlers or 20 to 40 feet using crankbaits.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair to good for walleye working 18 to 24 feet with variety of presentations on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Missouri River remains fair for walleye with a mix of small walleye and occasional keeper. Limited reports from Lake Audubon.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Generally fair walleye success, rebounding after a couple of slow days. Try crankbaits in 15 to 20 feet with most activity along the north shore. Lots of smallmouth bass. Work any of the rocky edges.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Light activity on Lake Tschida.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Continued good for small walleye throughout much of the Missouri River with better success in cooler morning and evening hours.

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Continued good for walleye. Try 15 to 30 feet using jigs and nightcrawlers or minnows with success throughout much of the Arm and into the big water.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea continues to be good for walleye using Lindy rigs or spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers in 13 to 30 feet. Try Steinke Bay, U.S. Highway 83 embankment, northeast corner of Mallard Island or west towards Douglas Bay. Also try crankbaits. Some bass and pike mixed in. Salmon activity remains fair. Try 65 to 85 over 100 to 130 feet with flashers and squids or herring. Missouri River remains OK during the day for small walleye. Sort through for keepers. Evening bite from boat and shore in the tailrace remains good using 3-way swivels or crankbaits. Also try spinners and bottom bouncers and nightcrawlers.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: The Van Hook Arm remains fair, although slightly slower, walleye success. Try 20 to 25 feet with spinners and nightcrawlers.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair to good for walleye throughout much of Lake Sakakawea.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Overall continued fair walleye success. Try spinners with nightcrawlers or minnows. Work a variety of depths.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea remains good for walleye, although better success is on windy days with fish moving into shallower water to feed. A few anglers on the Missouri River but limited reports.

North Dakota rivers streamflow and river stage

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Creek stage, 3.64 feet; streamflow, 2.3 CFS.

- Cannonball River, Regent: River stage, 4.64 feet.

- Green River, New Hradec: River stage, 5.95 feet; streamflow, 0.43 CFS.

- Heart River, Richardton: River stage, 4.9 feet; streamflow, 16 CFS.

- Knife River, Manning: River stage, 6.2 feet; streamflow, 1.6 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Marmath: River stage, 1.66 feet; streamflow, 17 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Medora: River stage, 1.86 feet; streamflow, 25 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Trotters: River stage, 1.91 feet; streamflow, 4.5 CFS.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 14.66 feet.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 9.15 feet.

- Missouri River, Bismarck: Streamflow, 26,400 CFS.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: River stage, 4.28 feet; streamflow, 3,690 CFS.

Hunting

- Early season Canada goose outlook: Good numbers of birds around Devils Lake and from Lake Sakakawea north to areas northwest of Minot.

Numbers to know

- NDGF Department main Bismarck office: 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