Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Dakota Recreation Report

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.

*Use caution with dogs when hunting around frozen wetlands for cuts from ice, breaking through, etc.

*Jan. 5: Archery deer, pheasant, turkey, sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse and partridge seasons close.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Dec. 23: 1,448.88 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.8 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,839.2 MSL; 20,300 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from Devils Lake. Not much activity on Lake Sakakawea. Ice conditions vary greatly, including on Lake Audubon so use extreme caution. Best access is with ATVs or walk-on throughout east-central area lakes.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Some perch success on the west side of Stump Lake yet and Black Tiger Bay on Devils Lake. Try 35 feet along the bottom in Black Tiger. Also try the old roadbed in Black Tiger Bay. Some pike success using tip-ups or spearing along Walford’s Bay and other west side Devils Lake bays. More activity on Devils Lake working a variety of depths for walleye.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Fair to good for walleye with a few perch mixed in.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Fair walleye bite starting on Devils Lake. Try slip bobbers and minnows in 20 to 32 feet working basin drop-offs. Look for scattered perch success. Move around to locate and stay on them because they’re not schooled yet.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Some activity on area lakes but reports remain limited.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Anglers using wax worms and grubs on area perch lakes. Lots of activity through many small area lakes. Jamestown Reservoir remains closed for access.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Lots of activity throughout many small area lakes. Try minnows. Look for a mix of walleye and perch. Jamestown Reservoir access remains closed.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Some perch success with a few crappie and 12- to 17-inch walleye mixed in. Try the west side around the crossing. Ice depth varies greatly so drill test holes along the way. No vehicle access advised.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Anglers accessing the lake with ATVs and walking but watch shorelines as lake elevations drop throughout winter. Some small walleye success.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: East end of Lake Audubon producing walleye from 3-Mile Bay to the east. Try variety of depths but check ice conditions as depths and quality vary. Scattered walleye success on Steinke Bay on the east end of Lake Sakakawea but use caution, as well. Look for a morning bite. A few darkhouses out on Steinke Bay but no reports on pike success. Douglas Bay producing some pike spearing activity but no walleye reports.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace continues producing walleye from both boats and shore. Try jigs from the honey hole and boat ramp or crankbaits from the chutes or from shore off the rocks. Best success remains at night.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Area lakes continue producing nice walleye success.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Lake access remains closed.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Access not permitted yet.

Hunting:

*Pheasants: Some hunters trying their late season luck around Lonetree WMA but no reports on success. Look for birds to be in areas with cover. More birds showing up around the east end of Lake Sakakawea.

*Predators: Look for fair to good coyote success with snow cover.

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.