Dakota Recreation Report: Dec. 27, 2021

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 and don’t move around at night.

*Dec. 31: Missouri River Canada goose zone and light goose seasons close.

*Jan. 2: Pheasant, grouse, partridge, High Plains duck, goose, merganser, and archery deer seasons close.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Dec. 21: 1,447.1 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,447.08 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,828.95 MSL; 15,900 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No new reports, but look for walk-on activity on small area lakes, as well as on Devils Lake and Lake Audubon.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Increasing activity on Devils Lake with the main lake iced over. Continued fair success on northern feeder lakes.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Increasing activity along the Minnewaukan Flats, but limited reports on success yet.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Bays iced over with walk-on activity. Still somewhat slow with occasional walleye. Lots of activity on northern feeder lakes.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Anglers just starting to head onto area lakes with some activity, but few reports yet.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait and Tackle, Jamestown: More anglers on smaller area lakes, including Hobart and Eckelson lakes, and Woodworth area lakes. Look for fair walleye and perch success.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No new reports from area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: No new reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Improving ice conditions, but access generally still with ATVs or walk-on, and not taking pickups on the main lake yet. Look for some perch and walleye success.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Garrison: Activity continues on Lake Audubon back bays, but Lake Sakakawea bays still iffy for walk-on access yet.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon, Hwy. 83 Lawn and Leisure, Garrison: Lake Audubon fair-to-good for walleye. Try 3-Mile or Nelson bays and Velva Point in eight to 12-feet or working deeper in 15 to 25-feet with jigs and minnows.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River quiet.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Fair-to-good walleye and perch success on Goose Lake with lots of activity on other area lakes.

Hunting:

*Upland: Continued pheasant activity working heavy cover, but birds are flighty.

N.D. Parks and Recreation Dept. state park cross-country ski trails:

*Turtle River, Arvilla: Trails in fair-to-good condition with sledding hill open.

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: (701) 328-9921.