Dakota Recreation Report: Dec. 12, 2022

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. 17: Canada Goose Eastern Zone season closes.

*Dec. 22: Western Canada Goose Zone season closes.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Dec. 6: 1,449.24 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.21 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,831.82 MSL; 15,900 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Hit-and-miss walleye and perch success on east-central area lakes with a little better success on Goose and Dry lakes. No reports from Devils Lake with most anglers still focusing on its northern feeder lakes.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: No new reports.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Anglers finding a mix of perch and walleye but ice conditions vary.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good success for a mix of walleye and some perch in northern feeder lakes. Look for activity to start soon on Devils Lake itself as ice depths improve.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Anglers generally waiting for better ice conditions with limited activity yet.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Some activity on small area lakes with fair success but recent snowfall could make access more difficult.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Activity throughout area lakes as anglers check early season small perch and walleye lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: No new reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Ice conditions vary greatly so use extreme caution with some walk-on activity and ATVs but no vehicles yet. Look for some walleye and perch success.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Some walleye activity on Lake Audubon but watch for pressure ridges. Try a variety of depths depending on the time of day.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Anglers moving around Lake Audubon with typical late morning or early walleye bite. Try glowing-type presentation.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Limited activity on the Missouri River tailrace.

Hunting:

*Waterfowl: Good numbers of Canada geese on the Missouri River on sandbars around the Washburn area and open bays along the east end of Lake Sakakawea.

Numbers to know:

*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: (701) 328-9921.