Thanks to Woodland Resort, our Outdoors Report sponsor, for helping keep readers up-to-date on happenings throughout the region. For complete details about fishing Devils Lake and its array of recreational opportunities visit their
website: www.woodlandresort.com
Facebook at: facebook.com/woodlandresortDL
telephone (701) 662-5996, extension 1,
email: woodlandresort@gondtc.com
They’re located at 1012 Woodland Drive, Devils Lake, N.D. 58301
Outdoor Notes:
•Free wildlife viewing blinds available at Upper Souris Nat’l. Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Contact the refuge, (701) 468-5467, for reservations. Grouse will likely be active into May due to the late spring weather.
•Antler shed hunting prohibited on all U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges.
•Boat registrations now required for the new 3-year registration cycle.
•May 12 – 21: Awakening of the Hatchery unguided hike on Garrison Dam Nat’l. Fish Hatchery trails. Hike whenever people want with focus on walleye production, spawn to stocking. Trail begins at Visitor Center.
•May 12 – 19: Audubon Nat’l. Wildlife Refuge Migratory Bird Game set up on refuge’s hiking trail beginning at Visitor Center.
•May 13: Nat’l. Migratory Bird Day.
•May 13: Bison Hide Tanning, Knife River Indian Villages Nat’l. Historic Site, Stanton, 10 a.m.
•May 14: Zoo Mother’s Day, Roosevelt Zoo, Minot.
Tournaments:
•May 13: Lake Darling.
•May 20: Lake Sakakawea, Lewis & Clark State Park; Devils Lake, Creel Bay.
•May 20 & 21: Lake Audubon, Totten Trail.
Fishing:
Lake Sakakawea elevation, May 8: 1,829.57 feet above mean sea level (MSL); 17,100 cubic feet per second (CFS) Garrison Dam average daily releases.
Devils Lake elevation: 1,450.49 feet above mean sea level (MSL).
Stump Lake elevation: 1,450.3 MSL.
•N.D. Game & Fish Dept. game wardens: No walleye or pike reports from Lake Sakakawea or the Missouri River. Continued paddlefish activity in the legal snagging zones on the upper end of Lake Sakakawea. Follow the Game & Fish website, (gf.nd.com) for potential of early snag-and-release closures. No reports from north-central area lakes or Devils Lake.
•Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Devils Lake opening in the bays and parts of the main lake. Lots of activity in northern feeder coulees and creeks from shore for walleye. opening in the bays and parts of the main lake. Lake Region Anglers Club in process of putting docks in place on public ramps.
•Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Creel Bay is ice-free with potential for lingering ice on the main lake. Good shore bite for walleye with fish spawn complete in some, but not all, areas of the lake. Good pike bite but look for that to slow as spawn winds down.
•Lake Darling, Karma C-Store, Ruthville: No reports from Lake Darling. Look for some activity around Grano.
•Lake Darling, Upper Souris Nat’l. Wildlife Refuge, Foxholm: Lake Darling is ice-free with all docks and fishing piers now in place for the season. A few anglers out but no reports on success.
•Lake Metigoshe, Four Seasons, Bottineau: Try the open water around the bridges and shore for pike with a few walleye mixed in. Lake is largely open and ice-out.
•Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: North Lake on Lake Audubon producing nice walleye. Douglas and Garrison bays on the east end of Lake Sakakawea are largely open and ramps are usable with a few boats starting to go out. deTrobriand Bay is starting to open up.
•Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Try pitching jigs in North Lake of Lake Audubon for smallmouth bass with a few walleye mixed in. Anglers were waiting for ice-out on the rest of Lake Audubon early in the week. Occasional walleye coming from the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try pitching jigs and minnows along rock bars in Steinke or Centennial bays in 2 to 12 feet. Decent pike bite along the north side back bays.
•Lake Sakakawea, New Town: Ice out on Van Hook Arm but walleye activity remains slow. Main ramp in the arm is open and dock in place. A few walleye coming from the river portion around New Town.
•Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains limited for both success and angler numbers. Look for some pike from shore on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Back bays are opening up but the main lake is still iced over on the east end.
•Lake Sakakawea/northwest N.D. lakes, Scenic Sports, Williston: Good paddlefish success but follow Scenic Sports on Facebook or Game & Fish website, (gf.nd.com) for the potential of early snag-and-release closure. Some walleye activity around White Earth Bay and New Town on the upper end of Lake Sakakawea using jigs and minnows. Try shallow back bays. White Earth Bay boat ramp dock now in place. Look for potential smelt run soon. Trenton Lake producing a mix of walleye and pike.
•Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No new reports.
•North-central/central N.D. lakes, Towner Hdwe. Hank, Towner: Souris River remains high with no activity. Area lakes also quiet.
N.D. river data:
•Des Lacs River, Foxholm: River stage, 8.16 feet, streamflow, 233 CFS
•Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: River stage, 7.83 feet; streamflow, 263 CFS.
•Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 17.46 feet.
•Missouri River, Washburn: River stage, 9.08 feet.
•Souris River, Foxholm: Streamflow, 430 CFS
•Souris River, Minot Broadway Bridge: River stage, 42.64 feet.
•Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: River stage, 5.42 feet; streamflow, 11,900 CFS.
Numbers to know:
•N.D. Game and Fish Dept., main Bismarck office: (701) 328-6300, website: (http://gf.nd.gov).
•Report All Poachers: (701) 328-9921
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