Dakota Recreation Report: Dec. 24, 2018

Outdoor notes:

*Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges and springs. Check conditions as you go along on the ice.

*Dec. 28: Zone 1 Canada goose season closes.

*Dec. 30: Light goose, High Plains duck, merganser, coot, and tundra swan seasons close.

*Dec. 31: Bighorn sheep, elk seasons close.

*Jan. 6: Upland bird and archery deer seasons close.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Dec. 18: 1,448.06 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.04 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,839.70 MSL; 21,100 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game ND Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake still somewhat slow, although a few more perch starting to show up. Slow but steady walleye success when anglers can locate the right depth as they move through. Better success remains on Lake Alice and Lake Irvine. No east-central or Missouri River System reports.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Continued perch success around Black Tiger Bay in 13 to 40 feet using wax worms. Northern feeder lakes continue producing walleye success.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Fair to good perch activity with best success around East Bay. Try 10 to 20 feet. Continued walleye success in northern feeder lakes working shallow.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Creel Bay producing nice pike success with some 17- 18-inch walleye mixed in.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Decent walleye success along East Bay on Devils Lake as well as continued walleye activity on northern feeder lakes, including Lake Irvine and Lake Alice. Try jigging Raps for walleye in shallow water. Work deeper for perch. Ice depths varies.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Lots of activity remains throughout area lakes with best walleye success using minnows.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Lots of activity with good perch success throughout many area lakes. Several perch are nice-sized, as well. Some walleye success mixed in. Not as much activity on Jamestown Reservoir with the shift towards the smaller lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Lots of activity throughout area lakes for walleye and perch using minnows.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Warm weather bringing out a lot of anglers on the weekends but success is spotty for perch. Look for walleye bite to start around mid-afternoon to dark in 17 feet. A mix of panfish, as well, with some pike success. Most anglers accessing with ATVs.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Increasing angler numbers throughout much of the lake with overall fair success at best for walleye and perch.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Some open water fishing on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with boat access from the west ramp at Fort Stevenson State Park. Work the mouth of the bays with jigs and minnows for walleye. Also try jigging Raps. Missouri River fair for walleye from the honey hole downstream. Lake Audubon producing walleye along the south side accessing from the refuge, Velva Point, and 9-Mile Bay. Watch ice with variable depths and warm weather.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River continues producing walleye and ling from both boat and shore during the day. Also try the wing walls during the day. Walleye night bite fair to good from shore off the rocks.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Continued success on area lakes.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Not many crappie reports with more activity on smaller perch ponds.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued good crappie activity.

*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: No new reports.

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Not many reports.

Hunting:

*Pheasants: Birds are flighty but hunters continue finding pockets in some areas.

Numbers to know:

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, main Bismarck office: (701) 328-6300, website: (http://gf.nd.gov).

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Devils Lake office: (701) 662-3617.

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

*Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121 or (701) 328-9921.