OUTDOORS NOTES
Reminder for both boat anglers and hunters to clear all equipment of vegetation for aquatic nuisance species prevention.
Lake Darling now closed to boat fishing.
Friday: Moose units M4, M8, M9, M10 and M11 open.
Saturday: Pheasant and fall turkey seasons open.
Monday through Oct. 15: Nat'l Wildlife Refuge Week.
Fact Box
The Dakota Recreation Report is compiled by Patricia Stockdill, a freelance writer who lives in Garrison.
Tournaments: Oct. 15: Missouri River, Williston.
FISHING
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Lake Sakakawea remains fair for salmon longlining along the face of the dam. Not much activity in the bays yet. Some walleye success from Tobacco Garden area of Lake Sakakawea. Missouri River fair for walleye with fish running a little smaller. Baukol-Noonan Mine Pond producing small perch but a majority are non-keepers.
Bottineau, Lake Meti-goshe State Park, Lake Metigoshe: Continued bluegill success with fair northern pike activity. Walleye remain slow.
Coleharbor, Totten Trail Restaurant, Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea: Lake Audubon slow for walleye. Try minnows. Most activity remains on the Missouri River with good walleye, trout and salmon with occasional catfish and a mix of other species.
Devils Lake, Ed's Bait, Devils Lake: Continued small walleye success jigging deeper water around rock piles or trolling the Golden Highway. Also try the bridges in the morning and evening. Bigger fish still coming from the shallows pulling crankbaits.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good for walleye. Work rock piles in deeper water for bigger fish. Some areas include New Mil or Old Mil bays, the towers and the main lake.
Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Saka-kawea / area lakes: Limited reports from Lake Sakakawea but McKenzie and Mossett bays remain fair for walleye using minnows in 16 to 20 feet.
Estevan, Saskatche-wan Environment, Rafferty Dam and area lakes: All area lakes remain good. Under Southern Saskatchewan for hunting: some snow geese starting to move as far down as Regina and Weyburn. Lots of local ducks with lots of water in wetlands yet. Cranes are moving through. Harvest done but lots of cover remains.
Foxholm, Upper Souris NWR, Lake Darling: Lake Darling closed to boat fishing. Continued shore-fishing activity from the Outlet Fishing Area with continued fair to good walleye success.
Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Lake Sakakawea producing a few walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike. Try the east end embankment west to Douglas Bay in 15 to 30 feet using variety of presentations although minnows are starting to work. Missouri River fair for walleye with a late afternoon, evening or morning bite in low light. North Lake producing bass on Lake Audubon.
Garrison, Six-Mile Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea: Not many reports from Lake Audubon. Some salmon activity on Lake Sakakawea. Try pulling crankbaits along the spillway or intake. Best Missouri River bite seems to early morning or late evening pulling crankbaits from boat or pitching crankbaits from shore.
Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River / area lakes: Missouri River remains fair to good for walleye throughout much of the system.
New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Fair for walleye around the boat ramp area of the Van Hook Arm.
New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: A bit of a fall walleye bite is going on with walleye moving up more into the Van Hook Arm. Try jigs and nightcrawlers farther up in the Arm itself.
Pick City, Scott's Bait & Tackle, Lake Saka-kawea / Missouri River: Lake Sakakawea continued producing salmon longlining with crankbaits near the spillway or intake. Some activity in the bays. No walleye reports. Missouri River remains good for trout, salmon and walleye. Try jigging in the holes or pulling crankbaits. Water releases have slowed, which is slowing success somewhat but overall anglers are finding good numbers of fish.
Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Saka-kawea / Missouri River / area lakes: Yellowstone River continues producing small sauger using jigs or Lindy rigs with minnows. Water is clear. Not many Lake Sakakawea reports.
HUNTING
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from north-central N.D. Geese are starting to bunch somewhat west of the Missouri River and along the south shore of Lake Sakakawea.
Upper Souris NWR, Foxholm: Lots of area waterfowl activity with good local duck numbers. Minimal migration yet with ongoing warm weather.
Northwest N.D.: Look for young pheasants in many area for the pheasant opener. Lots of heavy cover. A few lesser Canada geese are starting to move into the midsection around Lake Sakakawea.
West-central N.D.: Youth pheasant hunters fared OK with a fair outlook for the pheasant opener. Lots of ducks in the area with fair waterfowl success. A few snow geese trickling into scattered areas.