Dakota Recreation Report: March 1, 2021

Outdoor notes (check with organizers for event updates):

*New hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses available after March 15.

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

*March 6: Lonetree Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation banquet, Harvey Eagles, 5 p.m.

Tournaments (check with organizers for event updates):

*March 6: Devils Lake, Minnewaukan Flats.

*March 13: Big Mallard Marsh.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Feb. 23: 1,448.51 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.45 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,837.02 MSL; 21,600 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: East end of Lake Sakakawea producing some walleye but extremely variable ice conditions yet.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Warmer weather bringing a lot of anglers on Devils Lake with fair to good walleye success. Try Grahams Island or around the casino. Look for perch on the far east end of Devils Lake.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Improving walleye activity in about 12 feet. Work deeper for perch with improving success, as well.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Improving success with some limits of nice walleye and pike along the Minnewaukan Flats. A lot more anglers on the ice with better weather.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Better weather bringing more anglers out with fair perch success, a case of quality more so than quantity, however. Look for continued improving success as fish move into pre-spawn mode.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Increasing angler activity with generally fair success throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Lots of activity throughout area lakes with fair success.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fair to good success on area lakes, including Schock, Alkali, and Eckelson lakes along with good Jamestown Reservoir.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Continued activity in 22 to 35 feet for a mix of crappie, walleye, and perch. Try a variety of locations and move around to locate fish with most activity along the channel. Most activity is in the morning or evening. Look for them to move shallower in the coming weeks. Work the creek for pike, including some large ones. Some bluegill success along the dam in dark hours.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Warm weather bringing lots of anglers out with fair to good success, including a nice mix of perch and walleye with occasional honey hole of crappie. Work 25 to 35 feet for perch.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Despite cold weather and better ice conditions, variable ice depths remain prevalent on Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon, including Douglas Bay. Look for some walleye success in Garrison and Douglas bays with some pike mixed in for spearers. Overall success is still spotty, however. Lake Audubon fair for walleye. Bite is short and variable on both lakes; mainly low light conditions for walleye with better pike success during the day.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow, although a few more boats on the river. *Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Area lakes generally slow to fair although Goose Lake producing good numbers of small perch. Warmer weather bringing more anglers out throughout area lakes.

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 42-inch packed powder base with 11 runs and features on Bear Track Terrain Park open.

*Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: Open March 5, Saturday, and Sundays. Six runs, Beginner Hill, and Magic Carpet open. Contact (701) 549-3600 for schedule and COVID-19 info.

*Huff Hills Ski Area, Mandan: Open Saturday and Sundays. 20- to 30-inch machine groomed, packed powder base. Six runs, Bunny Hill, and new Terrain Park features with two lifts and bunny tow available.

Snowmobile N.D.:

*East Central Valley (Cass & Richland counties): 2- to 6-inch base but marginal open area conditions with better snow along east-west trails. Portions of all four trails open. Sargent County trail won’t open this season.

*All other 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.