The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Outdoor notes:
*Hunters reminded to put identification on tree stands and blinds when set up on N.D. Game & Fish Dept. WMAs.
*First-come, first-served leftover deer licenses for antlerless either species available in units 3A1 and 3F2 and antlerless whitetails in 3F1, 3F2, & 4F. Go to the N.D. Game & Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov) for information and application.
*PLOTS guide now available online at the Game & Fish Dept. website. Printed editions available in late August.
*Anglers reminded to follow ANS regulations, including draining live wells and removing plugs.
*Applications such as Onyx now have updated electronic posting information for the upcoming 2022 hunting season.
*Blue-green algae updates, N.D. Dept. of Environmental Quality: No warnings listed for area lakes but conditions could change daily. Several N.D. lakes have low toxin levels, including Antelope Lake, Pierce Co .; Big Mallard Marsh, Stutsman Co .; Buffalo Lake, Pierce Co .; Harvey Dam, Wells Co .; Hecker Lake, Sheridan Co .; Hobart Lake, Barnes Co .; Jamestown Reservoir, Stutsman Co .; Lake No. 5, Kidder Co .; Reule Lake, Stutsman Co .; and Wood and Stump lakes, Nelson Co .; Go to the agency website, (deq.nd.gov) for more information.
*Aug. 29: Chronic Wasting Disease public informational meeting sponsored by the N.D. Game & Fish Dept., Grand Hotel, Minot.
*Sept. 1: 2022 Federal Duck Stamp required for waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older.
*Sept. 1: Dove season opens.
*Sept. 2: Archery deer and (lottery license holders) pronghorn seasons open.
*Sept. 10: Grouse partridge, and squirrel seasons open.
Fishing:
*Devils Lake elevation, Aug. 22: 1,450.23 feet above mean sea level (MSL).
*Stump Lake elevation: 1,450.19 MSL.
*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,836.39 MSL; 21,200 cubic feet per second (CFS) Garrison Dam average daily releases.
*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. game wardens: No reports from east-central area lakes or Devils Lake. Lake Audubon continues producing walleye. Work deep. Some activity on the upper end of Lake Sakakawea but walleye success generally slowed.
*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued good for walleye throughout much of the lake, including perch success. Try 20 feet on East Bay for walleye and 16 to 20 feet for perch on the north end of 6-Mile Bay.
*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued walleye activity working spinners with bottom bouncers. Most activity remains along the Golden Highway.
*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Some activity along area lakes.
*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Some activity at Pipestem Reservoir for walleye using nightcrawlers. Look for a mix of walleye and crappie. Limited reports from other area lakes.
*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Look for improving bass activity, although perch success slowed somewhat.
*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Continue working deep water for walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea in 20 to 40 feet. Move slowly with live bait rigs and minnows or slow death hooks with small nightcrawlers. No reports from Lake Audubon but some anglers are on the west end.
*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Tougher walleye bite with anglers having to work at least 30 feet on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try switching to jigging Raps. Some activity on Lake Audubon but limited reports.
*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Steady walleye success in 25 to 35 feet, sometimes shallower. Best success is west of the resort. Use heavy weight to get deep.
*Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace continues producing small walleye and catfish. Wing walls not producing as well as from shore. East end of Lake Sakakawea producing walleye in 35 feet and deeper. Work points with bouncers and slow death hooks and nightcrawlers. Spotty and scattered shore-fishing success. Work 70 feet and deeper for salmon with flashers and squids in a variety of color combinations from Government Bay to the north. Also try herring. Look for improving success along the face of the dam soon.
*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Slow success at best on area lakes.
Hunting:
*Deer: Archery hunters in areas impacted by EHD in last year’s outbreak will likely see fewer deer and less activity, especially until harvest gets more underway.
*Doves: Look for good numbers of birds throughout much of the state.
*Early Canada goose season: Lack of birds throughout western N.D. hit by last April’s blizzards. Some geese around central N.D. in the Lonetree WMA area but not any numbers of local birds.
Numbers to know:
*N.D. Game and Fish Dept., main Bismarck office: (701) 328-6300, website: (http://gf.nd.gov).
*N.D. Game and Fish Dept., Devils Lake office: (701) 662-3617.
*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.
*Report All Poachers: (701) 328-9921.
