Dakota Recreation Report: March 28, 2022

Outdoor notes:

*Ice is never completely safe, especially with the transition to open water. 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.

*April 1: New 2022 hunting, fishing, & trapping licenses due.

*April 1: Snowmobile North Dakota trails close.

*April 2: Lake Region Ducks Unlimited banquet, Devils Lake KC Hall, 5:30 p.m.

*April 9: Spring turkey season opens.

*April 9: Central Dakota Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation, Gladstone Inn, Jamestown, 5 p.m.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, March 22: 1,447.28 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,447.34 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,827.63 MSL; 14,500 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Ice conditions rapidly deteriorating throughout all area lakes. Anglers advised to wait for open water fishing on many lakes with day-to-day access potentially rapidly changing. Only access Goose Lake from the boat ramp if walking onto that lake. Stay off the private land access point to avoid rutting up the farmers’ land

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: A few anglers walking onto the ice at Creel Bay but shoreline conditions rapidly deteriorating.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Lots of water on top of the ice so use extreme caution when walking on areas of Devils Lake, especially with deteriorating shoreline conditions.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Some walk-on activity around the Minnewaukan Flats but use extreme if walking onto ice.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Use extreme caution with lots of water on top of the ice, which will start deteriorating. Walk-on access recommended.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Ice conditions can change rapidly and quickly deteriorate so use caution if walking on the ice.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Activity slowed with deteriorating ice conditions and anglers waiting for open water shorelines.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Lots of end-of-the-season fishing on some small area lakes for perch and crappie. Walk-on access only recommended and conditions could change rapidly. Look for open water along the Jamestown Reservoir shoreline.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Deteriorating ice conditions with limited activity.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Continued fair success for a mix of species with a lot fewer anglers on the ice. Walk-on access recommended with deteriorating ice conditions.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Rapidly deteriorating ice conditions on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with walk-on access only. Some pike success but ice conditions can change rapidly and use extreme caution. Missouri River tailrace producing some success for a mix of pike, ling, catfish, and walleye but river remains low with ongoing reduced Garrison Dam releases.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Walk-on only access recommended. Continued fair to good for pike using smelt or herring in the bays throughout the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Look for an evening walleye bite on the east end of Lake Audubon around the cabin site with walk-on access only.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace producing a few walleye with bigger fish showing up at night. Try jigs and minnows or plastics and move around. Spotty walleye success from shore, the wing walls, and ramp.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Goose Lake producing a mix of perch, a few small walleye, and some pike but access is rapidly deteriorating and won’t be available soon. It won’t be long before anglers transition to open water.

Migration:

*Light geese: First waves of snow geese starting to come through in nice numbers across east-central areas of the state and the Missouri River System with a few birds reported as far north as Devils Lake and Williston early in the week. Thousands of birds moving through and feeding around the Lonetree WMA, as well. Some birds moving through north-central N.D. and the Turtle Mountains already. Overall, not many birds seem to be stopping.

Numbers to know:

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Devils Lake office: (701) 662-3617.

*Report All Poachers: (701) 328-9921.