Indian Hills Report 7-28-2010

[Jon Mitzel]

Last Fridays rain dumped 2.5 inches on us, but the weekend really turned out to be fantastic. I few more storms rolled through and kept the fishermen searching for the fish. The north side has been good from the flats to the west point. Crank baits have been landing some fish while crawlers and spinners seem to get most of the action. One fishermen reported that while crainking, if he slowed down and let the crank come up he would get a bite. The same was true while taking off as well. The vertical drop and rise was catching their eye. He came in with a mess off great fish. The last two big tourneys on the lake really showed the health and growth of our fish with the weigh in's much better then the past years. I think we are going to see some amazing fishing in the next few years.
For now keep fishing the points and don't count out the back bays for some larger, harder to catch fish. If you find one there are more so fishing out the area has worked well.
Bite Me Invite Apps are posted on our website at www.fishindiandhills.com Sat. Aug 21st.




*Indian Hills Resort: Lake Sakakawea’s elevation on July 28 was 1,850.8 feet above mean sea level. Walleye success has been fair to good lately and the fish are looking nice and healthy. Try crankbaits in 15 to 18 feet or spinners with nightcrawlers working the north shore in less than 20 feet.
*South shore: The lake continues producing good walleye success, weather fronts permitting. Try Lindy rigs or spinners with nightcrawlers or leeches working east and west of Nishu Bay. Some northern pike and bass are mixed in providing a nice mix for anglers.
*Van Hook: Anglers are enjoying continued fair to good walleye success working shallow with spinners and bottom bouncers in the north end of the Van Hook Arm. Also try deeper farther south in the Arm in 15 to 20 feet.
*Garrison: The east end of Lake Sakakawea was fair to good for walleye over the past weekend. Try working in the bays as well as the mouth of the bays and main lake structure in 8 to 40 feet depending on the location and be sure to experiment with a variety of baits and presentations.
*Pick City: The east end of Lake Sakakawea is fair to good for walleye but the fish are scattered. Try Mallard Island on the east end or Isaak Bay working west. Fish are spread out along the points. Try working deeper in 20 to 25 feet with crankbaits or shallow in 6 to 15 feet using Lindy rigs, floating Lindy rigs or spinners with bottom bounces. Also try jigs or Gulp! Salmon anglers are starting to see more success. Try flashers and squids in 60 to 85 feet over 100 to 120 feet. Most fish are in the 6- to 10-pound range, which is encouraging after the years of poor habitat conditions for them.
. North Dakota Rivers Report, featuring Lake Sakakawea’s two major tributaries:
*Missouri River: Garrison Dam average daily discharge is 16,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), a slight increase in the past week.
*Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: The streamflow average is 670 cfs; while river stage at the bridge is 1.56 feet.
*Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont.: Streamflow is 12,900 cfs while river stage is 6.53 feet.
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"... they clean up the bait because it has to be gone 10 days before the start of the season. Apparently, people are in the mindset now that there is a baiting season -- it ends 10 days before the season." -- Maj. Rodmen Smith, Minnesota DNR