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, or email (woodlandresort@gondtc.com). They’re located at 1012 Woodland Drive, Devils Lake, N.D. 58301.
•Boat registrations now required for the new 3-year registration cycle.
•Garrison Dam Nat’l. Fish Hatchery downstream of Garrison Dam open for free guided hatchery tours Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and holidays.
•May 19 – 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 19: Audubon Nat’l. Wildlife Refuge Migratory Bird Game set up on refuge’s hiking trail beginning at Visitor Center.
•May 20: Little Kids, Big World Dinosaur Hunt, N.D. Heritage Center, Bismarck, 10 a.m.
•May 26: EMS Kid Strong Event, Fort Stevenson State Park, Garrison, 4 p.m.
•May 27: Little Kids, Big World Nature Series, N.D. Heritage Center, Bismarck, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
•May 27 – 29: Sky Fest over Fort Stevenson Kite Festival, Fort Stevenson State Park, Garrison, 10 a.m. Go to the kite festival website, (www.skyfestnd.com) for details.
•May 28: Badlands Gravel Battle 100+ Bicycle Race, Medora. Call (701) 391-2717 for details.
•May 29: Military Service Personnel Day, Fort Stevenson State Park, Garrison. Free park entrance admission for military personnel.
Tournaments:
•May 20: Lake Sakakawea, Lewis & Clark State Park; Devils Lake, Creel Bay.
•May 20 & 21: Lake Audubon, Totten Trail.
•June 2 & 3: Missouri River tailrace.
•June 3: Lake Sakakawea, Sportsmen’s Centennial; Devils Lake, East Bay.
Fishing:
Lake Sakakawea elevation, May15: 1,830.32 feet above mean sea level (MSL); 16,800 cubic feet per second (CFS) Garrison Dam average daily releases.
Devils Lake elevation: 1,450.66 feet above mean sea level (MSL).
Stump Lake elevation: 1,450.41 MSL.
•N.D. Game & Fish Dept. game wardens: No reports from area lakes, the Missouri River System, or Devils Lake.
•Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Devils Lake feeder coulees remain fair to good for walleye but have slowed somewhat. Try slip bobbers for walleye on Pelican Lake. Main Devils Lake is open with some boat fishing activity.
•Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued good walleye success along the shorelines of the northern feeder creeks and coulees. Locate the warmest water pitching jigs and minnows. Main Devils Lake is ice-free. Look for increasing walleye activity with the spawn winding down.
•Lake Darling, Karma C-Store, Ruthville: Some activity on Lake Darling but overall somewhat slow walleye activity yet.
•Lake Darling, Upper Souris Nat’l. Wildlife Refuge, Foxholm: All docks and fishing piers now in place for the season on Lake Darling. A few anglers out but no reports on success.
•Lake Metigoshe, Four Seasons, Bottineau: Not many docks in place yet. Try evening hours for walleye and pike but no reports on bluegill success.
•Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: North Lake on Lake Audubon remains fair to good for walleye. A few anglers on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with scattered walleye success at best. Better success west around the New Town area.
•Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: North Lake on Lake Audubon continues producing walleye. Water is being pumped from Lake Sakakawea into Lake Audubon to get it to its normal annual summer elevation. East end of Lake Sakakawea still generally tough for a walleye bite.
•Lake Sakakawea, New Town: River portion around New Town is improving for walleye using jigs and minnows. Van Hook Arm remains quiet. The main boat Van Hook ramp is usable and dock in place
•Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Increasing activity on the Missouri River tailrace but limited success yet from either boat or shore. More anglers on the east end of Lake Sakakawea, as well, but activity also slow.
•Lake Sakakawea/northwest N.D. lakes, Scenic Sports, Williston: Increasing walleye activity on the upper end of Lake Sakakawea, especially between New Town and White Earth Bay. Work shallow pitching jigs less than 5 feet. Lewis & Clark State Park main ramp is usable. Continued nice pike activity in the back bays. Missouri and Yellowstone rivers running high but still producing catfish. Try Kota-Ray Dam for trout using minnows or Mepps spinners.
•Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Anglers getting out on area lakes but no reports on success.
•North-central/central N.D. lakes, Towner Hdwe. Hank, Towner: Souris River producing some walleye and pike but river levels likely rising after recent rains.
N.D. river data:
•Des Lacs River, Foxholm: River stage, 9.63 feet, streamflow, 455 CFS.
•Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: River stage, 10.35 feet; streamflow, 1,850 CFS.
•Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 18.07 feet.
•Missouri River, Washburn: River stage, 9.35 feet.
•Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 6.55 feet; streamflow, 2,170 CFS.
•Souris River, Foxholm: River stage, 8.61 feet.
•Souris River, Minot Broadway Bridge: River stage, 43.53 feet.
•Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: River stage, 6.77 feet; streamflow, 17,800 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
