Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Beware of high fire dangers when hunting and fishing.

- Friday: Youth deer season opens.

- Sat. and Sun.: Youth waterfowl season opens.

- Saturday: Sandhill crane and snipe seasons open.

- Saturday: Early Canada goose season opens.

- Sept. 22: Resident waterfowl and woodcock season opens.

Tournaments

- Sept. 29: Lake Sakakawea, Tobacco Garden Resort.

Fishing

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District game wardens: No reports.

- Beulah, Dakota Waters Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Lake Sakakawea somewhat slow with most anglers working the Missouri River tailrace.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Continued walleye activity around the Missouri River tailrace with OK success in the Bismarck-Mandan area. Lake Sakakawea salmon now starting to transition between deep water and shore-fishing. Try long-lining.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Limited activity on Lake Sakakawea and small area lakes.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Not much activity.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Fewer anglers on Lake Sakakawea. Move around and try variety of depths. Walleye slower on the Missouri River with continued catfish success.

- Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Limited activity. Bait shop closed for the season but campground and ramp remains open.

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

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Slowly improving walleye activity from Bismarck-Mandan going south around Fort Rice. Most fish are on the small side yet, although a few larger ones mixed in. Continued good catfish success in the tailrace.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea slowed recently, although anglers still finding some salmon success. Fish are spread from 30 to 120 feet with some long-lining from shore in the dark hours with Mepps spinners. Walleye also spread out. Try along Douglas Bay, areas around Pick City or northeast of Mallard Island. Missouri River fair to good for walleye with catfish in the chutes along with trout, salmon and walleye. Some walleye success down river.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Good for walleye in shallow water of the Van Hook Arm. Try a variety of presentations.

- Watford City, Tobacco Garden Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Fewer anglers on Lake Sakakawea but those going out continue catching walleye.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Limited activity on Lake Sakakawea with more anglers working the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers for sauger. Both rivers are low.

Hunting

- NDGF Department game wardens: No reports.

- North-central North Dakota: Limited grouse activity yet.

- Northeast North Dakota: A few bow hunters out. Look for lots of ducks for the youth waterfowl season but be careful with identification.

- Northwest North Dakota: Limited grouse activity with somewhat fair success around the New Town area and northwestern North Dakota.

- Southwest North Dakota: Fair to good dove and grouse success with hunters finding some nice early season archery deer.

- West-central North Dakota: Limited grouse hunting reports.

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: dakota recreation report, rec report, outdoors