Indian Hills / Mahto (Red Butte) Bay Area - Thursday, July 14, 2011

We are still waiting for the big bite to start! Not sure what is changing the pattern of the walleye. Traditionally we see the walleye start here just a week or so after the bite up north but this year it just has not been very strong. The Game and Fish guys were out last week test netting and they told me there are some really nice fish out there but they are scattered, McKenzie Bay had a good concentration as well as Deep Water. The age classes we are going to see in the next few years are growing and are very healthy. If I get a report from them I will send it on. Most boats headed to Parshall this week and had good success. The ones we seen here were few but 20-24 in was not uncommon. At the bottom of the report I have posted the local Derby's going on in case you want to stay out of those areas etc. Kelly

Eastern Lake Sakakawea Recreation Report
July, 14 2011
Patricia Stockdill 

• South shore: The walleye bite has definitely started with fish coming from the 13 to 18 feet range around Nishu and Beaver bays. Don’t forget to try farther west, as well. Spinners and nightcrawlers are garnering most angler’s interest. Perch, northern pike and smallmouth bass are mixed in with the walleye.
   
• Van Hook: Anglers are finding continued walleye success, wind permitting. Try nightcrawlers or leeches in 10 to 15 feet with spinners along with jigging or crankbaits. Most activity remains in the northern end of the Van Hook Arm.
    
• Garrison: Anglers are pretty tight-lipped about fishing this week, although there is word that Lake Sakakawea is fair for walleye on the east end. Work shallow down to 13 feet.
   
• Pick City: Like elsewhere along the east end, limited reports from Lake Sakakawea are coming in this week. However, try a slow presentation in 8 to 10 feet in the weeds. Anglers are finding a few salmon along the face of the dam. Try longlinging.

North Dakota Rivers Report, featuring Lake Sakakawea’s two major tributaries: 

• Missouri River: Garrison Dam average daily discharge is 135,000 cubic feet per second (CFS). Releases are gradually being reduced so there’s good news for downstream flood conditions.
   
• Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: The streamflow average is 455 CFS while river stage at the bridge is 1.19 feet.
   
• Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: The river stage is 15.94 feet with streamflow at 64,700 CFS. The river is also dropping.

What's going on!

Fort Stevenson State Park south of Garrison is busy all this week as anglers converge on the community for the annual North Dakota Governor’s Cup Walleye Derby, along with the Junior Governor’s Cup. The Governor’s Cup is Friday and Saturday while the Junior event is Saturday at the park. Tournaments are also taking place Saturday at McKenzie Bay and the Van Hook Arm. Next weekend on July 22 and 23 anglers will converge along the south shore for the annual Dakota Walleye Classic headquartered out of Beulah Bay. The River Bend Ranch northeast of Hazen hosts the annual Praise on the Prairie Festival, a three-day outdoor family concert July 21 through July 23.


Numbers and Web sites to know: 

• Indian Hills Resort: (701) 743-4122.
• N.D. Game & Fish Department main Bismarck office: (701) 328-6300, Web site ( http://gf.nd.gov ).
• N.D. Game & Fish Department Riverdale office: (701) 654-7475.
• Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121.
• Friends of Lake Sakakawea: www.lakesakakawea.com

Tags: walleye, july, hills, indian, 0, week, butte, thursday, red, mahto

Region: Indian Hills / Mahto (Red Butte) Bay Area

Categories: Fishing