Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Saturday: Fur Harvester Class, Dickinson North Dakota Game and Fish Department office. Sign up on the Game and Fish Dept. website (gf.nd.gov), click “Online Services” and “Online Course Enrollment”.

- Aug. 31: Archery deer and mountain lion seasons open.

- Sept. 1: Dove season opens.

Fishing

- NDGF Department District game wardens: Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River slowed with fair at best walleye success. Tailrace itself is probably better than around Washburn, which has little activity. Look for a mix of species. Upper end of Lake Sakakawea producing lots of rough fish from shore with occasional walleye. Fair to good for salmon around the face of the dam. Lake Audubon OK for walleye and smallmouth bass.

- Beulah, Dakota Waters Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Lots of smallmouth bass success. Try between the pump house and Indian Hills along the north shore for walleye in 20 to 30 feet using spinners and nightcrawlers.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea continues producing nice salmon success. Missouri River slower down around the state line with most activity just south of Bismarck or up at the tailrace, which remains good for walleye.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea producing mixed reports on depths with anglers finding some walleye success in 12 to 35 feet. Fish seem scattered throughout the lake. Try spinners and nightcrawlers with some success now starting again with minnows. Good for salmon on the east end in 90 to 100 feet using herring. Salmon are ranging from 7 to 12 pounds. Patterson Lake remains fair for pike from shore using spoons. Indian Creek Dam producing perch with limited success for small walleye. Lake Tschida generally slow, although anglers finding a few white bass and small walleye. Camels Hump Dam remains fair for trout.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea fair for walleye with fish scattered. Try Tunnel Point and parts of the Little Missouri Arm in 10 to 20 feet using live bait or crankbaits. Missouri River tailrace remains good from boat and shore. Try casting floating Rapalas and Huskee jerks from shore. Try working up and drifting back in the chutes with best success late at night from boats. Lots of boat traffic, though. Not many reports from other portions of the river, although the Heskett Plant has some success. Try below the spillway on Lake Tschida along the bends downstream. Some success on the lake, as well.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River becoming more inconsistent and spotty for walleye success with good and slow days depending on weather fronts. Lake Audubon fair but also somewhat inconsistent for walleye. Still good numbers of boats on the Missouri River System.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair walleye success. Try crankbaits in 15 to 20 feet working the south shore.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Limited activity with few reports.

- Mandaree, McKenzie Bay Marina, Lake Sakakawea: Continued good walleye success in 6 to 30 feet from the bay out to the main lake. Resort closed beginning Sept. 4.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea remains fair to good for walleye but fish are more spread out and less schooled up. Try Lindy rigs or spinners with nightcrawlers in 16 to 30 feet with some fish in shallower water. Work the points. Good salmon bite with anglers catching multiple fish. Try 65 to 110 feet using flashers and squids or herring. Lots of catfish from the Missouri River chutes with a good, ongoing downriver walleye bite. Try Lindy rigs and nightcrawlers with crankbaits at night from boat and shore.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Lake Sakakawea is turning and walleye success slowed in the Arm and the river portion of the lake.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair walleye success with most anglers still working around Tobacco Garden.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: So-so walleye success with the lake turning but overall activity is still fair. Try variety of presentations. Look for improving success as the lake settles.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Walleye success slowed somewhat on the west end of Lake Sakakawea.

North Dakota rivers streamflow and river stage

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: Creek stage, 3.57 feet; streamflow, 1.6 CFS.

- Cannonball River, Regent: River stage, 4.66 feet.

- Green River, New Hradec: River stage, 5.9 feet; streamflow, 0.38 CFS.

- Heart River, Richardton: River stage, 4.71 feet; streamflow, 8.2 CFS.

- Knife River, Manning: River stage, 5.86 feet; streamflow, 0.64 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Medora: River stage, 1.83 feet; streamflow, 21 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Trotters: River stage, 1.95 feet; streamflow, 5 CFS.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 14.31 feet.

- Missouri River, Stanton: River stage, 9.06 feet.

- Missouri River, Bismarck: Streamflow, 24,700 CFS.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: River stage, 3.6 feet; streamflow, 3,150 CFS.

Hunting

- Early Canada goose season: Limited goose success west river with water drying up. Better success is east river closer to Long Lake southeast of Bismarck and up to the Beulah along the Missouri River corridor. A few hunters along the Missouri River System with fair success but not many limits. Not much west river activity with birds only scattered in family flocks. Lots of hunters around Lake Audubon. Devils Lake area hunters finding good success but birds already becoming spread out.

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