Dakota Recreation Report

[Lee Borgersen]

  ...Dakota Recreation Report for May 17, 2013

May 17, 2013

Outdoor Notes

Alkali Lake, Buffalo Lake, and Tosse Lake in Sargent County and Lake Elsie, Lueck Lake, and West Moran Lake in Richland County have 14-inch walleye minimum length limit.

No minnows or aquatic bait can be removed from Pipestem Creek below Pipestem Dam or from the James River between Jamestown Dam and the North Dakota-South Dakota border, as well as any tributary up to the first vehicular bridge or crossing in an effort to restrict the spread of the aquatic nuisance species, silver carp.

Deer applications now available.

Sunday: Turkey season closes.

Tournaments

May 18 & 19: Jamestown Reservoir.

May 18: Devils Lake, Pelican Lake Bay; 30th Annual Vince Herding Youth Fishing Derby, Red River, Wahpeton’s Kidder Recreation Area; Missouri River, Graner’s Bottoms.

May 25: Dead Colt Creek.

June 1: Devils Lake, East Bay: Missouri River tailrace; Lake Sakakawea, Fort Stevenson State Park.

Fishing

Devils Lake elevation, May 14: 1,452.47 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,827.8 MSL; 20,500 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from Devils Lake. Increasing activity with area rivers dropping in elevation. Good reports along Sheyenne River low-head dams from Valley City through Kathryn and Ft. Ransom. Slower success from Kindred up to West Fargo and Harwood. Walleye and pike active in the mornings. Try pitching bright spoons or heavier jigs with nightcrawlers. Minnows are in somewhat short supply yet but anglers using any minnow combination are also finding success. Some catfish success using worm balls. Area lakes generally ice-free but not all docks are in place yet. Fishing piers usable on Woodhaven Pond and Casselton Reservoir.

Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Continued good walleye and pike success in any of the coulees and feeder creeks. Try jigs and Twister Tails. The lake is ice-free.

Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Most anglers are working the feeder creeks and coulees but some reports of slower success. The lake has open water.

Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Continued shore-fishing success for walleye and pike in the coulees or any areas with current. Work shallow water with shallow crankbaits from boats now that the lake is ice-free.

Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Lots of activity on Jamestown Reservoir but no reports with the upcoming tournament. Look for continued improving success on the James River as the water settles and clears.

Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited reports.

Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Lake is ice-free but limited fishing reports yet. Docks are getting in place.

Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Ice is generally off Lake Sakakawea with docks now in place at Fort Stevenson State Park. A few walleye along the east end of Lake Sakakawea, Riverdale Bluffs, and mouth of Garrison Bay. No reports from Lake Audubon but try North Lake. No Missouri River tailrace reports with better success farther down river closer to Bismarck-Mandan.

Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Some shore-fishing activity on area lakes and the Sheyenne River with fair to good pike success on Coal Mine Lake, Goose Lake, and the Sheyenne River where access is available.

Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: Increasing activity with some walleye success. Most fish taken south of Bismarck-Mandan appear to have spawned out. Missouri River tailrace remains slow.

Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Some activity but limited reports.

Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Not many reports.

Red River, River Keepers, Fargo: Some shore-fishing activity on the Red River in Fargo but limited reports.

Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: No new reports.

Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.

N.D. river

streamflow & elevation

Baldhill Creek, Dazey: Creek stage, 7.22 feet; streamflow, 92 CFS.

James River, Jamestown: River stage, 8.72 feet; streamflow, 1,000 CFS.

Pipestem Creek, Pingree: Creek stage, 6.84 feet.

Red River, Fargo: River stage, 16.87 feet; streamflow, 3,070 CFS.

Sheyenne River, Cooperstown: River stage, 15.43 feet; streamflow, 2,190 CFS.

Sheyenne River, Valley City: River stage, 10.77 feet.

Numbers to know

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

N.D. Game & Fish Department, Jamestown office: 253-6480.

RAP, Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bismarck, website: (www.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice).