Dakota Recreation Report: September 12, 2022

Outdoor notes:

*Hunters are reminded to put identification on tree stands and blinds when set up on N.D. Game & Fish Dept. WMAs.

*PLOTS guide now available online at the Game & Fish Dept. website with printed editions also available at vendors.

*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.

*Sept. 16: Youth deer season opens.

*Sept. 17: Youth waterfowl season opens.

*Sept. 24: Resident waterfowl season opens.

*Sept. 24: Sakakawea Pheasants Forever Fall Pheasant Fest, Garrison City Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.

*Sept. 25: Youth deer season closes.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Sept. 6: 1,449.97 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.97 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,835.21 MSL; 21,500 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: East-central area lakes generally slow. Devils Lake okay for walleye with good numbers of small fish with occasional keeper mixed in. No reports from the Missouri River System.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued success in the north end of 6-Mile Bay for a mix of species.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Lots of small walleye, so sort through for any keepers. Work deeper structure, including sunken roads and rocks, with nightcrawlers or plastics for larger walleye. Also try crankbaits.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good walleye success trolling with bottom bouncers or crankbaits. Lots of smaller walleye, so sort through for any keepers. Try 10 feet and work out.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Activity slowing down throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Continued perch and walleye success on Jamestown and Pipestem reservoirs. Not many reports from area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continue working nightcrawlers for walleye on Jamestown Reservoir.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Continued fair for perch and crappie but slow for other species.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Some nice perch success in shallow water off the docks along with small bluegill mixed in. Limited boat fishing activity and success.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: East end of Lake Sakakawea slowed but try working slow presentations in 30 to 35 feet. Also try longlining with crankbaits.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Prior to the windy weekend anglers working around Medicine Stone in 18 to 20 feet with nightcrawlers found nice walleye activity with some success along the beacon, as well. Also try minnows.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Tougher walleye bite on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try early morning hours with better success starting to come off of minnows. Work deep for walleye on Lake Audubon with good smallmouth bass success.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace continues producing catfish from both boat and shore with small walleye success. Best trout and salmon success is at night. Wing walls remain slow. Walleye remain deep along the east end of Lake Sakakawea with nightcrawlers still producing success. Better success is still farther west more so than the east end. Fair to good salmon success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea in 70 feet and deeper yet using white on white flashers and squids. Also try herring. Most activity is around Scoria Bay but look for them to start moving around more and throughout the entire water column with some walleye anglers now finding some.

Hunting:

*Archery deer: Limited movement yet with warm weather.

*Doves: Good numbers of birds with warm weather holding them in the state yet. Look for harvested canola or grain fields and nearby water. Birds aren’t significantly bunched up yet.

Numbers to know:

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, main Bismarck office: (701) 328-6300, website: (http://gf.nd.gov).

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Devils Lake office: (701) 662-3617.

*N.D. Game & Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

*Report All Poachers: (701) 328-9921.