Lake Sakakawea Fishing Reports

Went out chasing salmon today dont have downriggers so I tried running leadcore ran 6 colors that got me to about 35 feet and caught 3 salmon doing that, saw about a dozen boats out there everything from downrigging to trolling longlines along the dam, saw about 7 or 8 fish caught so theres a few around.  There was a guy fishing off the rocks by the spillway saw him catch one there than ran into him again by the intake and saw him catch two there! so they are starting to roam the shorelines a little bit anyways, should b pretty good in another week or two I guess it all depends on the weather. big females are still deep all fish i saw were males about 8 pounds.  I got mine on chartreuse and white cranks.

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Heading up to Pouch Point for the long weekend.Any body want to share some spots of where a person should try.Been a year since last time up there last and the waters up alittle since then.Any info would be great.Get back to me .Thanks

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just wondering has anyone tried long lining cranks yet with any success? I am gonna give it a shot tomorrow figure with this cooler weather maybe there coming up some?

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I was talking with Peg, boss of the Tobacco Garden spread. “I don’t know what it is about this place but it gets me every time. Maybe it’s the unexpected, the surprise. After miles of badlands country you arrive and are taken back a bit by the oasis at the end of the road. I like it here.”

Walleye Quest

7am    The bell rings and round one begins with breakfast at Tobacco Gardens with Peg in center ring. Jesse gives the bacon and eggs a terrible bashing and Trapper is putting the hammer on what looks like Fruit Loops. He is none too happy with me for interrupting.

7:48    Radio is minutes away with Max from KEYZ Country am 660. We talk about get’n reservations for Labor Day before it’s too late. Tobacco Gardens is such an inviting place with shoreline right at your lawn.

8:15    KFYR am 550 on the PH Factor with Phil and Jason. These guys make me look good, which by the way can only be done on radio. We hit the ANS topic and remind everyone to take a walk around the boat and clean’r up. I mention I plan to start the day right at the ramp since that is where Doug released an 8.38 the day before. Listen in

8: 40    I have only one thing on my mind, straight to Hofflunds on the outside edge in 27-30 feet with leadcore. Yesterday I marked several fish, caught a couple of small walleyes and made a promise to myself to get back today and see if the fish were in a different mood. They weren’t, one White Bass.

9:15    Don, 31 year Tobacco Garden veteran resident and local fishing expert suggested we take’r in so we move inside the tree line straight north of our deep water venture. Down with Rip Shads, Jointed 5, and a couple of RS4’s in 10 feet. South wind blowing into shore, lightly stained water, perfect set up. You can almost feel the expectancy.

9:48    The feeling of expectancy passes and we move to a roadbed with a sharp drop on the outside edge. 18-20 feet down is two Reef Runners dressed in Mud Minnow and Firetiger. Their companions, the Bomber brothers are suited up in Firetiger and Wonderbread Black.

10: 40    Don informs us that Billings Bay is named after a guy who drowned here. Tuff price to pay for that dubious distinction. Years ago it was a great location for Indian artifacts. Knives, arrow heads, buffalo teeth and bones. We make a pull in shallow with Fireline and I slow it down to 2 mph thinking maybe I’m moving too fast.

11:20    Shallow shoreline is calling me as we fish past some broken scoria. Gotta be a fish in these rocks. We are just east of 3 Sisters, giant bluffs sliced in half by Sakakawea’s hungry waves. To my surprise I didn’t lose a single crank to the angry looking rocks. I didn’t catch a single fish either.

11:57    Don makes another suggestion and off we go to Sorenson Bay. Don and I think alike as waves are pushing in making a walleye perfect mud line in shallow. Rip Shads and RS5’s are in tow. Don informs us that a Mt Lion was shot a mile south of here last deer season.

12:20    I make a decision to go deeper and we get the lead out into 21-23 feet and fish our way to the Beacon. 120 feet back plus 10 feet of leader is a white Flicker Shad, our hope for this pull. It does connect but again, small Northern, not the Sauger I was hoping for.

12:55    Phil Parker from KFYR am 550 checks in and I give a summary of the morning. We end the broadcast with a pep talk. If this happens to you don’t give up. Change locations, change depths, change cranks, keep looking. Listen in

1:15    You don’t need leadcore to fish 15 but why not try something different. Lot of trees on the screen but we are able to slide through without a hook up. We are also able to slide through without a fish.

Intermission:    Two days into a south wind at 10-15 mph. Blue sky, no sneaky thunderstorms, second day of high pressure. As to weather, perfect.

2:03    Don tells me we are into Moose country. You can almost see the black shape outlined deep in the cool shadows of the Ash coulees. Don got the lucky draw for a “once in a lifetime” moose license. He also got a onetime elk tag. I’m thinking with a guy this lucky fish can only hold out so long.

2:22    We are miles west of Tobacco and across the lake from Chris Cove. Fireline in 15 with some new lures. We have run the gamut of cranks today but I find some 400 series Reef Runners in the bottom of the compartment.

3:10    Talk leads us to fall, Don’s favorite time of year. Starting now fishing improves every day as fish migrate into this area from downstream. Don suggests white jigs and white tails. Typical of fall, expect big fish. Start the search in 15 to 20 but be willing to move. Plan your time around mid Sept and fish till freeze up.

3:40    All that fall talk has us downshifting into low. Out comes the white jigs and tails and down into 30+ feet. Up comes first a northern by Jesse followed by Mr. Croaker. The only thing consistent today is size and numbers. Small, very small.

4:20    Don passes on more good info, particularly for the upcoming fall bite. The Guard Camp is one hot area that needs to be checked. So good in fact I asked permission to pass it on. Thanks Don. N-48-08-54-9 W-103-09-41-3

4:30    I raise the white flag, toss in the towel, slap the matt. I give, Uncle, no more please. If you’re gonna have a bad day have it at work, not when you’re fishing.

4:45    Todd from am 550 calls and we go over the day and talk of things to come. I’m so looking forward to the fall bite. Listen in

Confessions of a Fishing Guide anonymous

I have had 3 times in my years of guiding for walleyes that the day was totally unproductive. Unproductive is code for—shush—read this quietly. (no fish). Clients realizing that it’s still fishing even with a guide, and also realizing it’s a long swim back have always been cordial. In fact they have always sincerely stated, “We know it’s fishing. We will still hire you again; not your fault the fish won’t bite.”

But they never have!

Fishing is a learned sport. More you practice, better you get, so better get fishing.

GPS Google Earth Locations, Video and Pictures of this report please visit:  www.ndlive.com

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The Bite Me Invite was small but mighty. 17 teams and the winning weight on 5 fish was just over 14lbs. I was without a camera, which is rare, but I am waiting for a friend to send me her shots. Then I will have a photo of the teams board and the weights. Last year we had 28 team and lots of O's under number of fish caught. This year almost every team had 3-5 fish and the weights were much better. The fish have moved out deeper and some fishermen reported that the water has cooled in the bays. There are some really great fish to be caught yet this season so I hope you can make it out. Reminder we are open until late October in the cabins and the water in the campgrounds will remain on until about Oct. 15th. I think we could see some good fall fishing!


Eastern Lake Sakakawea Recreation Report
August 26, 2010
Patricia Stockdill
 

• South shore: Wind is limiting activity but those anglers still getting out are finding some walleye in 15 to 25 feet using Lindy rigs or spinners with nightcrawlers. A few anglers are also starting to try crankbaits. Most activity remains around Beaver, Red Butte or Nishu bays or the intake along the north shore. Lots of nice smallmouth bass continue to be taken.
   
• Van Hook: Winds over the past several days have limited the number of anglers on the Van Hook Arm but try working 25 to 40 feet for walleye. Anglers are marking fish but it’s a matter of enticing them to bite.
    
• Garrison: Weather permitting, anglers are still getting some walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try the mouth and the bay itself at Douglas Bay or the mouth of Centennial Bay. Some salmon anglers have been getting a few sauger working from Deadmans Bay over to the spillway. There’s been continued fair salmon success using flashers and squids or cut herring fishing in 95 feet over 140 to 150 feet.
   
• Pick City: Lake Sakakawea slowed over the past few days with wind limiting activity. Those anglers going are still getting fish but the key is to move around using Lindy rigs or spinners and nightcrawlers in 18 to 25 feet along the mud lines. It might be worth a try with crankbaits in deeper water, too. Salmon activity slowed slightly during the past week but picked up again over the weekend. Try working 65 feet over a variety of depths using flashers and squids or herring. Many of the salmon taken have weighed 10-plus pounds.

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

• Missouri River: Garrison Dam average daily discharge remains at 16,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).
   
• Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: Readings were unavailable from the Long X station.
   
• Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: Streamflow is 6,140 cfs while river stage is 4.57 feet.

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

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Don't have a lot of details but salmon fishing on Sakakawea this past weekend was okay.

Quite a few teams out of the 45 in the Great Planers tourney had at least one fish.  Seemed like 2 and 3 was a somewhat common number.  Others up in the top five had 4 to 6 fish.  Think there was two teams with 48 and 44 pounds.  Then a 28 and from there the teens.

Will try to track down the results.

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Grrrrr......

What's the saying?  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade?  Yeah, well...whatever.

Last weekend I was out with my boat was the casino tourney.  At the end of the last day my boat wouldn't idle.  It worked at quarter, half and full throttle but not idle.  It acted up from no where but at the VERY end of the day it worked.  So, I put in in the shed at home and thought nothing of it.

Ironically, my brother Tanner had his boat down in Garrison at the shop.  They were waiting on the part so I had him bring mine down from New Town.  Never even thought about the hic-cup I had in the casino tourney.  I got down to the lake Friday evening and my brother was out for just over an hour and said it ran fine.  Well, I got to the boat ramp just when they happened to be loading and wouldn't ya know, it would idle (nor start without throttle).

Tinkered with it that night and hoped it would work.  Nope.

So fished the next two days without a boat that could idle.  Managed only four walleyes on Saturday and only one on Sunday (forgot to mention Tanner caught one on Friday).  Fish came from 16 to 44 feet of water.  Sunday really hurt me as I didn't go fish where I would have liked.  You see, the wind was suppose to blow very hard but it didn't.  I guess they weren't kidding when the forecast had 5-20 mph.  Never seen a forecast like that and thought it was just a goof.  Nope, literally the wind would blow 5 mph at times and then blow 20+ at times.  However, it really didn't get all that rough on the water.  I was being responsible and planned for it to get that rough so I ended up fishing areas I have fished before (and don't like).  I don't like them for a reason...they never seem to produce fish.

Oh well, my sister Tessa caught her first walleye in a couple years.  She doesn't get out much and I sure would have liked to put her on more fish.  Same with my mom and brother and MYSELF!  Oh well, my funk this year continues.  Although, talked to a few boats and some had zero, some had one and some had two.  The most I heard caught all weekend was 6 and 8 fish in two different boats.  Sounds like fish were further west in a more consistent clip.

Boat in the shop.  We'll see how expensive it gets....

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Fishing was still fairly good this past weekend.  Fished the Bite Me Invite out of Indians Hills.  Managed to catch around 15 walleyes all together.  Kept 8 nice ones ranging from 15-23 inches.  All fish came on crankbaits in 14-18 ft of water.  Water temps were down in the 70 degree range.  Weather was beautiful with the wind keeping the 90 degree temps at bay.  Special thanks to Kelly and the Indian Hills staff on a great tourney.  I hope they plan to keep it going and I'd like to see some more participants next year.  I know I will be there!!  Great fishing and great place to be in late August.  So get out there and wet a line.  The fall can actually be the best time to be on the water chasing walleyes!!  JIG AND A LEECH!!

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Went out yesterday for the first time in 5 - 6 years.  Managed to wash years of dust off some tackle!  Worked along the east part of dam, Riverdale bluffs, past Govt, Pochant and Deadman's.  Then back again.   Worked the usual flashers, squids and skinnies, various colors and sizes at depths from 65 through 90.  .  No stink bait. 
Skunked, no releases, and we didn't see or hear on the radio of any fish caught, but maybe 8 - 10 boats out, total. At least tested all the equipment for later on this summer and fall. 
Probably an off day, as pretty good numbers and sizes have been taken recently, but on and off.  
Heard walleyes were biting pretty well, though depths not consistent except maybe deeper than usual.  Also for what its worth,  reports of a lot of smaller perch caught while walleye fishing,   Bodes good for recovery if the COE doesn't let all the water out!
Good luck in the Blackjaw this weekend.  Wish I could be there....

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 Went to Pierre lat weekend. Very windy but did get a 16, a 14, and 12 lb on Sunday. Face of the dam and just north of the intakes. All before noon on herring.

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New to the reports.........
Will be fishing salmon on SAK this weekend, 2 persons in my boat. Have not fished SAK in >10 years as I've done 2-4 trips to lake Michigan each summer the past 12-13 years. Am a very experienced angler with all the right gear for salmon. Will have the marine radio to listen in and give reports if able. I used to put in at govt bay, and hope to again this weekend. Will that work? Then out to the dam face?  Any other advice for the weekend?

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I am looking to go up to the big lake this week and im wondering if anyone has been out yet this year?  Did you catch any fish?  Where did you catch them and what did you use?

thanks

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Has anyone been out in the last  couple weeks fishing for salmon?  Where did you catch the fish?  What did you use?

thanks

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Went out yesterday around 6am!!! And fishing seemed like it was going to be pretty good despite the weather however wind from 6-8am was pretty bad. Then the rest of the day until 10am we only picked up a few perch! Had a few nice bites but the boat was bucking so hard from steep waves that missed em. But got soaked and despite all the bad weather still pretty fun day.

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This ain’t fighting like any walleye I ever caught.

If you’re like me it’s get’r in the water, big engine fired up and what is taking him so long. Geez, all he had to do was park the rig. I have a solution that don’t include valium. Forget the big motor, drop the electric and grab a jig’n pole. Concrete boat ramps may be the most overlooked and under fished structure on the lake. Not just walleyes either. This morning it was Smallies.

They come in all sizes from short little 5 footers down in 20 and 30 feet to 50 footers that still have the tops budding leaves. It amazes me how many trees a crank can run through. It also amazes me when all of the sudden the bite is on and it ain’t walleyes doing the biting. With my best lures I keep 3-5 in the plano box and another 5 in the rod locker just in case. Whataya mean we don’t have anymore?

South of Parshall Bay for 10 miles is some of the sweetest fishing on earth. That was until 20 million trees decided to put down roots right in the middle of my cranking area. This section is the biggest flat I know about on Sakakawea and when we can get to it again it will be 4 on at a time. Till then it’s pick a thin spot and hope for the best.

Leadcore is something that intimidated me and I put it off way too long. I was forced to use it in a tournament if I wanted to catch fish and every since I have regretted not getting on board sooner. I don’t like the “take it slow” style leadcore demands of me but I like the results. If you haven’t yet, consider giving it a try, the learning curve is easy.

We found fish in 23-25 feet and they were a bit on the negative side. They would have nothing to do with my bigger deep diving cranks. The solution was drop down little baits on lead. I use a 10 foot fireline leader tied to 18 lb leadcore. A good starting point is 100 feet of line-2 mph-20 feet of water. For each foot deeper let out another 10 ft. This is not a formula but will get you started in the right direction.

I have 10 foot rods out the sides and some little 5 footers I made for going straight out the back. This keeps some separation and allows me to run 4 lines. If a line fouls get it in right away as you ain’t seen twist till you run lead. It might be a good idea to keep an extra spool in the boat. I have needed it more than once.

I use lures I normally run in shallow water. The idea is to get smaller lures down deep and entice a bite. Speed is critical and you will see why on turns. Too tight a turn and the inside line slows, drops and can snag. It can also trigger a bite. I pull around 2 mph and if I need a little more depth I often drop my speed to 1.8. You can also simply let out more line. This is a bit of an art but not nearly as difficult as this sounds.

Today is a Reef Runner Rip Shad Wonder Bread Red day. I went through the tackle box and can’t find another color or style that will catch a fish. Yesterday I could not catch a fish on Wonderbread Red. Ya, color does make a difference. Yesterday with the same conditions it was Blue/Chrome all the way. Most days it is a mix of colors and types.

The fish we are catching are staying close to some small trees or bushes. Yesterday I didn’t lose a single crank. Today I more than made up for it. I stayed pretty cool till the hungry bushes bit down hard and 3 at a time was too much. I moved away from the snags and found some flat sand that made for better pulling but the lure of catching fish drew me back to the structure.

The heart always seems to speak so quietly that I often don’t pay attention. Today the whisper was; “Take it in shallow Schoneck.” After 30 minutes of no fish out deep the message got through. I’m amazed by fish movement. This morning there was not a fish in 10 feet. The answer was to move out deeper on the flat. This afternoon those same fish vacated the deep and went in shallow. We finished the day with a burst of excitement. Both walleyes and smallmouth in 10 feet.

Boat ramps, why not, you’re just sitting there waiting. Leadcore, way easier than it sounds. Listening to the heart, now that will take some effort, but it could make a real difference.

Teen Challenge of Mandan is a spiritually based addiction center. ND Fishing Challenge is teaming up to take the guys currently in the program fishing on Sept 11. The event will be in Devils Lake at Lakewood Bible Camp. After the fishing we will have an outdoor fish fry. Several of us plan to make it a weekend. I’m looking for volunteers with boats who will help by taking a couple of the guys out for the day. Let me know if you can join us. It will take some effort but it could make a real difference.

Remember fishing is a learned sport. More you fish the better you get so better get fishing.

GPS Google Earth Locations, Video and Pictures of this report please visit:  www.ndlive.com

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