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Lake Sakakawea Fishing Update

by Kelly Sorge, Indian Hills Resort


September 2, 2015

Thanks for receiving our fishing reports. I hope you enjoy hearing the latest news from around our lake! 

Have a great Holiday Weekend, 

*Indian Hills Resort: Lake Sakakawea’s elevation is 1,842.58 feet above mean sea level. The area around Indian Hills remains fair for walleye using live bait in 20 to 30 feet with minnows starting to produce success. Move around with fish grouping around structured areas.

*Garrison: Lake Sakakawea remains fair for walleye working throughout much of the east end. Look for a switch to crankbaits with fish suspended in deeper water. Move around to look baitfish and then stay on them. Anglers might also want to try live bait with spinners in 20 to 22 feet. A few salmon are coming from along the face of the dam and Government Bay. 

*Pick City: The east end of Lake Sakakawea remains good for walleye. Move around but try Steinke Bay, 7 Sisters, deTrobriand, Douglas, and Ellwein bays or Pick City Island in a range of depths from 4 to 30 feet using slow depth hooks and nightcrawlers. Salmon remain fair with most anglers catching a fish or 2 in 65 to 110 feet over deeper water. Last weekend’s wind spread them out but try flashers and squids around Riverdale Bluffs or Government Bay. There is also a good bite in the bays for some nice-sized smallmouth bass.

*South shore: Work the high walls around Beulah Bay and towards the west in 20 to 35 feet for walleye with bigger fish still coming on nightcrawlers.

*Van Hook Arm: Anglers are finding hit-and-miss small walleye success. Try working deep in 25 to 30 feet. The walleye are scattered so move around a lot. 

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

*Missouri River: Garrison Dam average daily discharge remains at 20,000 cubic feet per second (CFS). 

*Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: The streamflow average is 100 CFS. 

*Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont. The Yellowstone’s river stage is 3.42 feet while it is flowing at a rate of 3,900 CFS. 

Kelly Sorge
Indian Hills Resort
701-743-4122

 

August 20th, 2015:

Here is what is happening in the area this week: The Bite Me tournament was another success. Thanks to all of the participants and congratulations to the winners. Fort Stevenson State Park will be busy Aug. 22 when the park located south of Garrison hosts its annual Regatta and the Beach Party. Sakakawea State Park hosts the annual Salmon Derby. 

Fishing: 

*Indian Hills Resort: Lake Sakakawea’s elevation is 1,843.35 feet above mean sea level. Anglers continue finding fair walleye success. Try a variety of depths ranging from crankbaits in 8 to 10 feet or jigs or spinners in 25 to 30 feet working the inside of the bays. Anglers might also want to try working around Tolly’s Point or as far west as Deepwater Bay.

*Garrison: Continued good walleye success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea working a variety of depths. Try working throughout the east end or west in Douglas Bay. There is improving salmon success in 45 to 95 feet along the face of the dam or Riverdale Bluffs. 

*Pick City: Lake Sakakawea remains fair to good for walleye in 10 to 25 feet but be sure to also try shallower or deeper. Try 7 Sisters, Steinke Bay, Sportsmen’s Centennial, Mallard Island, or west around Douglas Bay or Pick City working west along the south shore. Walleye are generally found throughout much of the east end. Work 65 to 95 feet around Deadman’s, Pochant, or Government bays with a move to the face of the dam for salmon using flashers and squids or herring. The fish are nice-sized with some salmon weighing more than 10 pounds. 

*South shore: Look for somewhat improving walleye success. Try 8 to 12 feet using nightcrawlers along the north shore, especially Nishu Bay. Be sure to also try Expansion Bay on the south shore.

*Van Hook Arm: Anglers are finding spotty walleye success in the Van Hook Arm. Try working deeper in 18 to 25 feet using spinners or Lindy rigs. There are fair numbers of small walleye but anglers need to sort through for the keepers. 

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

*Missouri River: Garrison Dam average daily discharge is 20,000 cubic feet per second (CFS). 

*Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: The streamflow average is 123 CFS. 

*Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont. The Yellowstone’s river stage is 3.6 feet while it is flowing at a rate of 4,390 CFS. 

 

 

Kelly Sorge
Indian Hills Resort
701-743-4122

 

August 10th, 2015:

There is still time to sign up for Indian Hills Resort’s Bite Me! fishing tournament Aug. 15 so be sure to fill out the online application and send it in. Deadline to mail it is Wednesday and hand delivered Saturday morning. There is a chance we could fill up so please don’t wait until Saturday!! www.fishindianhills.com

Fishing: 

*Indian Hills Resort: Lake Sakakawea’s elevation is 1,843.92 feet above mean sea level. Wind slowed activity for a few days last week but look for slowly improving success. Work west of the resort in 8 to 15 or 20 to 22 feet using crankbaits or live bait presentations with leeches or nightcrawlers. Some nice 3- to 4-poounds walleye are coming from the Deepwater area. The wind cooled bays down so try locating warmer water.

*Garrison: The east end of Lake Sakakawea remains fair to good for walleye using live bait rigs or spinners with nightcrawlers or spinners. Work main lake points in 18 to 30 feet. Overall, though, there are fewer anglers on the water.

*Pick City: Lake Sakakawea is fair but inconsistent for walleye on the east end. Move around and try Steinke Bay, off the points in 20 to 30 feet, Alcatraz Island, deTrobriand Bay, or Mallard Island. There seems to be spottier success farther west, though. Try nightcrawlers or slow depth hooks. Salmon are still somewhat slow.

*South shore: Water remains muddy after last week’s winds. Try working northwest of the resort along the north shore around Indian Hills.

*Van Hook Arm: Anglers are finding slower walleye success after windy weather muddied water.

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

*Missouri River: Garrison Dam average daily discharge remains at 21,000 cubic feet per second (CFS). 

*Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: The streamflow average is 119 CFS. 

*Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont. The Yellowstone’s river stage is 3.65 feet while it is flowing at a rate of 3,740 CFS.

 

Here is what is happening in the area this week: Indian Hills welcomes the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives for their annual fishing tournament this weekend. In addition, it will be a busy weekend for bicyclists when the annual CANDISC bicycle tour, which begins Aug. 1, departs from Fort Stevenson State Park near Garrison. On Aug. 2, Old Time and Country music fans can enjoy the jam session at Hazen City Hall. 

Fishing: 

*Indian Hills Resort: Lake Sakakawea’s elevation is 1,845.24 feet above mean sea level. Anglers might want to try 20 to 22 feet for walleye using Lindy rigs or spinners with leeches or nightcrawlers working from the resort to the west. Another trick could be to work with a slow presentation. Anglers are starting to find a few bigger walleye.

*Garrison: Continued good walleye activity remains throughout much of the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try a variety of presentations and depths.

*Pick City: The east end of Lake Sakakawea remains good for walleye using spinners with nightcrawlers but work deeper in 30 feet with weather fronts pushing fish deeper. Try a mix of bays on the north and south side, as well as around Mallard Island. For our salmon anglers, try 75 to 90 feet over 150 feet along the face of the dam up to Deadman’s Bay. Salmon are scattered elsewhere, as well.

*South shore: Anglers are finding continued fair walleye success in 12 to 16 feet. The best activity remains west of the resort using crankbaits or slow depth hooks.

*Van Hook Arm: Generally fair walleye success remains in the Van Hook Arm. Try 18 to 22 feet using leeches with Lindy rigs or spinners around 8-Pound Flats.

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

*Missouri River: Garrison Dam average daily discharge is 21,000 cubic feet per second (CFS). 

*Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: The streamflow average is 145 CFS. 

*Yellowstone River, Sidney, Mont. The Yellowstone’s river stage is 4.46 feet while it is flowing at a rate of 6,080 CFS. 

 

Kelly Sorge
Indian Hills Resort
701-743-4122

 

Here is what is happening in the area this week: The North Dakota Governor’s Cup Walleye Derby is in the record books after last weekend’s event with the Dakota Walleye Classic taking center stage on Lake Sakakawea July 24 and 25. It’s based out of Beulah Bay. On Aug. 1 and 2 Indian Hills is pleased to welcome back the North Dakota Rural Electric Cooperative Association for its annual tournament headquartered here at the Hills. 

Fishing: 

*Indian Hills Resort: Try 15 to 22 feet for walleye using nightcrawlers with the beacon and flats still producing well. There is some active smallmouth bass from shore, which is providing a good opportunity for young anglers.

*Garrison: Walleye remain good in 9 to 25 feet using a variety of presentations throughout much of the east end of Lake Sakakawea. 

*Pick City: The east end of Lake Sakakawea remains fair for walleye using spinners or slow depth hooks with nightcrawlers in 15 to 30 feet. Anglers might also want to try leeches or crankbaits. The east end is improving around Steinke Bay and other eastern locations with continued success around Douglas Bay, 3 bays west of Sakakawea State Park, or the islands around the park. A few salmon are showing up with anglers generally keying in about 75 feet along the face of the dam.

*South shore: Continued fair walleye success with the bigger fish coming farther west towards the Little Missouri Arm. Work shallow using Lindy rigs and bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers but don’t hesitate to try leeches.

*Van Hook Arm: Recent weather fronts are creating unsettled walleye activity. Try 18 to 25 feet in the lower end of the Van Hook Arm using spinners and nightcrawlers.

Kelly Sorge
Indian Hills Resort
701-743-4122