Dakota Recreation Report: Oct. 17, 2022

Outdoor notes:

*Check all PLOTS signage before driving on with vehicles when waterfowl hunting to ensure landowner allows vehicles.

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

*Waterfowl hunters reminded to follow ANS regulations when hunting from boats.

*Applications such as Onyx now have updated electronic posting information for the 2022 hunting season.

*Oct. 22: Mink, muskrat, & weasel trapping seasons open.

*Oct. 23: Pronghorn season closes.

*Oct. 28: James Valley Pheasants Forever fundraising evening, Club 1883, Jamestown, 5 p.m.

*Oct. 30: Moose season closes.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Oct. 11: 1,449.49 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.4 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,833.94 MSL.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No new reports.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Limited angler activity.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Continued good walleye.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Limited activity but continue jigging around rock piles and bridges for walleye.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Little activity across area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Activity remains light throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No new reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: A few anglers still on the water with fair perch success.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Activity remains limited.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Little activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea but continued fair walleye success around Deepwater Bay. River portion by New Town improving for walleye.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: 3-foot drawdown continues on Lake Audubon into Lake Sakakawea so work around the culvert by the pumping station along the U.S. Highway 83 embankment for walleye. Douglas Bay continues producing walleye in 15 to 40 feet depending on wind. Try jigging raps or jigs and minnows. Continued salmon activity from shore around Government Bay. Try pitching jigs and minnows along points or back bays in 2 to 8 feet on Lake Audubon for walleye or the east side culverts going into Sakakawea. Continued bass success, as well. Try top-water baits in the early morning hours.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace continues producing catfish from both boat and shore. Look for occasional walleye, trout, and salmon but bite is still slow. Most walleye activity on Lake Sakakawea is west towards Beaver Bay on the south shore. Work deep. Salmon continue stacking up around Government, Pochant, and Scoria bays but it’s still a tough bite. Try early morning hours before sunrise or after sundown from shore.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No new reports.

Hunting:

*Pronghorn: Generally fair success.

*Upland: Good opening pheasant weekend but lots of young, unidentifiable birds.

*Waterfowl: Devils Lake area still holding local ducks but many moved out farther away from the lake. Snow geese starting to move into portions of east-central N.D. Some northern Canada goose movement starting in north-central and central N.D. Some northern Canada goose moving into the northeast, though. Limited light goose movement yet, however, in north-central and northwest N.D. Whitefronts starting to move into northwest N.D. with good swan numbers. Look for sandhill cranes to being moving through now, as well.

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.