Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Dakota Recreation Report: February 8, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*Feb. 10: Spring turkey applications due. Information and applications available on the Game & Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov).

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Earth Day patch contest entry deadline March 15. Information available on the Game & Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov).

Tournaments

(check with sponsors for updates):

*Feb. 13: Lake Williams.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Feb. 2: 1,448.52 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.47 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,838.12 MSL; 18,300 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from east-central area lakes or Devils Lake. Occasional, scattered pike success on the back bays of Lake Sakakawea on the east end. Use caution with variable ice conditions yet, however.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Good numbers of small walleye but perch remain spotty and elusive at best, although a few, occasional small perch. Try 10 to 20 feet around structure for walleye and 20 to 30 feet for perch.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Anglers marking and seeing fish on cameras but bite remains tough on Devils Lake.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: A little activity throughout area lakes but generally fair success at best.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued trout success on Moon Lake. Alkali Lake producing walleye. Jamestown Reservoir producing perch and crappie. Try super worms or nightcrawlers.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Fair to good for a mix of walleye, crappie, and perch. Lots of small fish but some nice-sized ones mixed in. Concentrate along the channel and creek edges. Some pike mixed in. Beware of pressure ridges, however.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Improving walleye and perch activity with overall good success, including crappie mixed in.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Lake Audubon spotty for walleye. Anglers starting to venture onto the back bays along the east end of Lake Sakakawea around Douglas Bay. Use extreme caution on both lakes, however, with variable ice depths and areas of thin ice.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Anglers starting to return onto the river portion of Lake Sakakawea north and south of New Town with fair walleye success. Occasional walleye from the Van Hook Arm but anglers not going out much past the boat ramp with poor ice conditions farther out onto the Arm yet.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Good pike success.

N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. trails

(conditions can vary):

*North Dakota state parks remain open with trails usable for hiking. Check with individual parks for other available amenities this winter. New park passes now available.

Downhill skiing (conditions can vary):

*Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: Open Friday through Sunday. Contact (701) 263-4556 for more information.

*Buena Vista Ski Area, Bemidji, Minn .: 24- to 32-inch packed powder base with nine runs and features on Bear Track Terrain Park open.

*Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: Open Feb. 15, Saturday, and Sundays. Six runs, Beginner Hill, and Magic Carpet open. Contact (701) 549-3600 for schedule and COVID-19 information.

*Huff Hills Ski Area, Mandan: Open Saturday and Sunday. 18- to 20-inch machine groomed, packed powder base. 6 runs, Bunny Hill, and new Terrain Park features with two lifts and bunny tow available.

Snowmobile N.D .:

*Trails remain closed until better snow conditions.

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 & Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

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