Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Dakota Recreation Report for January 11, 2019

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.

*Reminder that it’s illegal to chase, harasses or pursue all wildlife – including coyotes – with any motorized vehicle.

*Jan. 18-19: Pheasants Forever State Habitat Meeting, Bismarck.

*Jan. 19: Turtle River State Park Winter Festival, Arvilla.

Tournaments:

*Jan. 12: Lake Ashtabula.

*Jan. 19: Lake Josephine, Sibley Lake, Lake Audubon.

*Jan. 26: Devils Lake, 6-Mile Bay.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 8: 1,448.20 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.15 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,839.68 MSL; 16,400 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake remains somewhat slow even with anglers moving throughout much of the lake. Lake Coe and Silver Lake WMA has some activity but overall success is somewhat slow, as well. Lake Audubon producing small walleye. Look for pike spearing activity in the back bays along the east end of Lake Sakakawea but ice depths are variable and dangerous yet.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Fair to good walleye success but perch are a bit more finicky on Devils Lake. Better perch activity is coming from Stump Lake.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Perch remain finicky with unstable weather patterns. Fair walleye success but also somewhat inconsistent. Try 20 feet for walleye; deeper for perch. Work structure. Tracked vehicles recommended with hard snowdrifts on the ice.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Anglers catching walleye and perch but continue having to work hard at it. Anglers can get around on the ice but be prepared with hard snowdrifts.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Improving walleye and perch success in 8 to 20 feet and deeper. Try East Devils Lake and Black Tiger bays for both perch and walleye. Work deeper later in the afternoon for perch. Pike fair to good in shallower water. Access is OK but watch for some areas with hard snowdrifts. Bring shovels and tow ropes in case of breaking through a drift.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Continued activity throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Continued good walleye and perch success throughout area lakes. Jamestown Reservoir producing crappie.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir continues producing crappie with good success across area lakes, as well.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Fair to good smallmouth bass success with some large ones mixed in. Some walleye success in 16 to 22 feet using wax worms or minnows. Anglers are moving throughout the lake. Occasional crappie. Mosher Lake producing some nice-sized walleye but the bite has a narrow afternoon window. Work shallow.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Improving and increasing success overall for a mix of walleye, perch and occasional nice-sized bass. Walleye bite has a little narrow and it’s a matter of being there at the right time with better success at night using jigs and small minnows or a large minnow and small minnow on another hook.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: South side of Lake Audubon continues producing walleye. A few aglers walking onto Centennial Bay back bays for pike but use extreme caution with variable ice.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Weather permitting, Missouri River continues producing walleye and ling from boats and the wing walls. Try jigs and minnows from the wing walls and boats. Also try crankbaits from shore off the rocks. Lake Sakakawea still has open water in spots. Lake Audubon hit-and-miss for walleye

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No new reports.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Continued crappie success.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fair to good for crappie.

*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Reports remain limited.

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued activity but limited reports.

N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. ski trails:

*Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau: Fat tire and cross-country rails open and groomed.

*Turtle River, Arvilla: Trails generally poor to fair with hard, icy conditions in exposed areas. Protected areas fair. Sledding hill and warming chalet open daily. Hill is icy and extremely fast. Fat tire bike trails open and in fair condition. Ice throughout many trail areas.

*No reports from other parks.

Downhill skiing:

*Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: 12- to 18-inch base with beginner run, five runs, seven tubing lanes, with two jumps and one rail Terrain Park features open.

*Buena Vista Ski Area, Bemidji, Minn .: 18- to 26-inch machine groomed base with all runs and Terrain Park open.

*Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: Delayed season opening.

*Huff Hills Ski Area, Mandan: 22- to 28-inch machine groomed base with spring conditions. Five runs and two lifts open.

Snowmobile N.D.:

*East-central Valley (Cass & Richland counties): Fargo East & West trails open with 3- to 6-inch base.

*Lake Region (Nelson & Ramsey counties) Trails 1, 2, 5 and 6 open with 3- to 9-inch base. Good condition.

*North-central (Benson, McHenry, Pierce, Ramsey, & Towner counties): NC 1, 2, & 3 trails closed but all other trails are open with 4- to 5-inch base. Fair to poor condition.

*Southern Valley (Richland County): All trails open and groomed with 4- to 7-inch base.

*All other trails remain closed.

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.

 
 
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