OUTDOORS NOTES
Saturday: Resident waterfowl and woodcock seasons open.
Sunday: Youth deer, E1, E2 elk archery, moose archery seasons close.
Sept. 30: E1, E2 antlerless elk; any elk September E3, E4 seasons close.
Sept. 30: Watchable Wildlife photo contest closes.
Oct. 1 and 2: Youth pheasant season.
Fact Box
The Dakota Recreation Report is compiled by Patricia Stockdill, a freelance writer who lives in Garrison.
Oct. 1: Nonresident waterfowl, swan seasons open.
Tournaments: Oct. 1: Lake Sakakawea, Tobacco Garden.
FISHING
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Limited walleye activity and success in the New Town and White Earth Bay areas of Lake Sakakawea. Try working 20 feet over 30 to 40 feet long-lining for salmon along the face of the dam. Missouri River tailrace fair to good for salmon, trout and walleye at times. Remember to drain live wells and inspect boats.
Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River / area lakes: Continued walleye activity on the Missouri River tailrace and honey hole. Try casting or trolling crankbaits in the honey hole or 3-way swivels with crankbaits and drifting the river itself. Try casting spoons or Mepps spinners from shore or boat on Lake Sakakawea or the tailrace for salmon. Some shore-fishing for walleye and catfish in the Bismarck-Mandan area.
Bottineau, Four Seasons, Lake Metigoshe: Lake Metigoshe continues producing bluegill with occasional walleye, although fewer anglers on the lake.
Coleharbor, Totten Trail Restaurant, Lakes Audubon AND Sakakawea: Missouri River continues producing trout, salmon and walleye. Try running deep-diving crankbaits against the current. Limited activity on Lake Audubon but those going are still finding nice walleye.
Devils Lake, Ed's Bait, Devils Lake: Continued walleye success. Work the Golden Highway and old 281 in the Minnewaukan Flats trolling crankbaits. Jig the rock piles and deeper humps and points on the main lake. Try trolling crankbaits or spinners and bottom bouncers in 10 to 25 feet in the East Bay. Nicer fish are still coming when pitching crankbaits.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued good walleye success. Try trolling spinners with bottom bouncers and nightcrawlers in the shallows. Lots of small fish with some bigger ones mixed in. Work the south end in the weed beds. N.D. Highway 57 bridge area is muddy with construction creating a long mud line.
Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea / area lakes: Limited reports from Lake Sakakawea. Missouri River tailrace remains good.
Estevan, Saskatchewan Environment, Rafferty Dam AND area lakes: Area reservoirs producing walleye and northern pike with anglers also enjoying some of the better perch success than in recent years.
Foxholm, Upper Souris NWR, Lake Darling: Lake Darling producing occasional walleye with lots of activity yet at the Outlet Fishing Area downstream of the dam with fair walleye success.
Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Missouri River remains fair to good for a mix of walleye, salmon and trout with better success in the evening. Not many reports from Lake Audubon. Lake Sakakawea spotty for walleye. Move around with no consistency showing up.
Garrison, Indian Hills Resort, Lake Sakakawea: Limited walleye reports but bait and ice still available.
Garrison, Six-Mile Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon AND Sakakawea: Limited reports from Lake Sakakawea. Lake Audubon slow. Lots of boat activity on the Missouri River.
Harvey, Coal Mine Lake AND area lakes: Coal Mine Lake remains good for northern pike. Continued pike and walleye activity at Goose Lake. Harvey Dam good for pike. Other species fair.
Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River / area lakes: Fair to good for small walleye on Lake Oahe. Anglers working harder for keeper fish.
New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Improving walleye success in the Van Hook Arm around Gull Island and Whitey's using jigs and minnows. Also try crankbaits in the southern Arm in 25 to 30 feet.
Pick City, Scott's Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River: Missouri River boat activity remains good for walleye and salmon with some trout mixed in, as well. Best times seem to be morning and evening using spinners and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers. Shore-fishing success still OK in the morning and evening. Try around the ramp, from the rocks or fourth loop of the campground with Huskee Jerks or spoons. Try long-lining with deep-running plugs around the spillway or intake structure on Lake Sakakawea for salmon. Work points for walleye in 30 feet or the shallows around Steinke or Douglas bays and the third bay west of Pick City.
Ruthville, Ruthville Store, Lake Darling AND area lakes: Continued good walleye and northern pike activity at Baker's Bridge, Outlet Fishing Area, Grano and Lake Darling.
Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River / area lakes: Missouri River good for walleye. Lake Sakakawea is more fickle so most activity remains on the river. Try a variety of presentations.
RAMP REPORT
Lake Darling ramp update: The lake closes Sept. 30 to boat fishing. Shore-fishing available at designated areas.
Usable Devils Lake ramps: All ramps usable except Henegar Landing. Grahams Island State Park access is day-to-day. Call 766-4015 for updates.
Usable Missouri River ramps: All ramps open except Sanger, Hoge's Island and Grant Marsh ramps are marginal; Kneifel Landing, Fox Island and Sibley Park remain closed.
HUNTING
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. game wardens: Not many youth waterfowl hunters in central, west-central N.D. Fair grouse success in that same area. A few cranes starting to filter in but limited numbers so far. Fair at best grouse numbers around the midsection of the Lake Sakakawea with limited hunting pressure.
Arrowwood NWR, Pingree: Fair number of youngish duck broods so be careful with identification before shooting. Abundant numbers of blue-winged teal on many wetlands. The other species are spread out at this time. No large concentrations of Canada geese, but birds are also scattered.
East-central N.D.: Lots of ducks in the region. Grouse numbers are low.
Lonetree WMA, Harvey: Good dove numbers remain in the area but hunting pressure is light. Spotty sharptail grouse success with some reports of fair numbers and other reports of hunters not finding birds. Good numbers of local ducks in the area.
Northeast N.D.: Excellent waterfowl numbers in the region.
Northwest N.D.: Limited youth deer and archery success so far. OK grouse success.
Saskatchewan Environment, Southern Saskatchewan: Abundant duck numbers in the region with geese in the area but no migration activity yet. Some flocks of snow geese feeding in the central part of the province around Wadena but no southern movement.
Upper Souris NWR, Foxholm: A few youth hunters out on the refuge, which is open for deer archery and the youth deer season. Local geese are starting to bunch but limited influx of migrants yet. Good numbers of local ducks.
West-central N.D.: Lots of water and ducks with good numbers of local Canada geese in the area. Fair for grouse on reservation land. Remember tribal license requirements.