Dakota recreation report for January 7, 2011

Jamestown Sun

Dakota Recreation Report

Jan. 7, 2011

Patricia Stockdill

Outdoor Notes:

Barnes County Wildlife Club Jan. 15 ice fishing derby, Lake Ashtabula, is cancelled.

Sunday: Fall turkey season closes.

Fishing:

Ice is never completely safe. Use caution, especially around bridges and areas with vegetation. Check local conditions before venturing onto ice. Let someone know your location and estimated return time.

Devil Lake elevation, Jan. 5: 1,451.6 feet above mean sea level (msl).

Stump Lake elevation, Jan. 5: 1,451.51 msl.

Lake Sakakawea elevation, Jan. 5: 1,841.5 msl; 22,000 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. Game Wardens: Reminder that it’s illegal to chase or harass any wildlife when snowmobiling. Tree stands must be removed from WMAs by Jan. 31. Boats fishing the open water of the Missouri River tailrace must have current boat registration. Spiritwood Lake has about 10 inches of ice and is producing small pike. Other area lakes are difficult or impossible to access with heavy snow and once on the water comes up through ice holes. However, the snow, cold, and white conditions are helpful for coyote hunters. Lake Audubon fair for occasional walleye, however, ice depth is inconsistent and water is coming up through holes at times. Anglers starting to venture onto Lake Sakakawea but no reports. Missouri River tailrace remains fair for walleye.

Coal Mine Lake, Anamoose: Fair for northern pike but access limited to snowmobiles.

Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Access is difficult on Devils Lake so anglers are using snowmobiles or tracked 4-wheelers to get around. Walford’s Bay remains fairly decent for walleye. Also try Fort Totten, Mission Bay, Stromme’s Addition or Doc Hagen’s, working structure in 10 to 22 feet. Some perch activity at the south end of Black Tiger, Dome House, Creel Bay, and Country Club House. Watch slush along the shoreline and water coming up through the ice holes and cracks throughout the lake.

Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Fair perch and walleye success with best access using snowmobiles or tracked 4-wheelers.

Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Limited activity with heavy snow on the lake.

Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Continued northern pike success at Walford’s Bay with scattered walleye and perch success where anglers can get around. Snowmobiles or tracked vehicles and portables are a must.

Goose Lake, Harvey: Little activity.

Harvey Dam, Harvey: Fair for northern pike and small walleye but limited access.

Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited activity with water coming up through the holes when anglers drill.

Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Not much activity with limited access on most lakes. A few small lakes west of Jamestown are producing perch but anglers are walking on because heavy snow is limiting driving access.

Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No reports with little activity because of more snow.

Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Access continues hampering fishing activity on Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon.

Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Not much activity on Lake Audubon and Lake Sakakawea. Look for more activity with warmer weather. Missouri River remains fair to good for small walleye, weather permitting, using jigs and minnows. Sort through the numbers of small fish for the keepers. Wing walls froze in but continue producing walleye when not iced over. Some walleye activity off the rocks at night but cold weather is limiting the number of anglers.

Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Access is difficult at best with little activity.

Red River, River Keepers, Fargo: Some areas of the Red River continue having open water with dangerous ice conditions where ice exists. Wahpeton-Breckenridge area along the Red and Bois de Sioux rivers also has open water with high water releases from Orwell Dam and Lake Traverse.

Spiritwood Lake, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited activity.

Snowmobile N.D. trail report:

Cattail (Steele, Cass, and Traill counties): 7- to 8-inch snow depth. Trail is in the process of opening and will be groomed when weather permits.

East Central Valley (Fargo, Casselton area): Trails open and good condition. 9-inch snow depth. Grooming will take place, weather permitting.

Lake Region (Devils Lake area): 13-inch snow depth. Trails open and in good condition. Grooming will take place, weather permitting.

May-Port (Mayville, Portland area): 6-inch snow depth. Trail closed due to lack of snow.

Missouri Valley (Bismarck, Linton area): 7-inch snow depth. Trails open and in good condition. Grooming will take place, weather permitting.

North Central (Leeds, Rugby area): 12-inch snow depth. Western portion of the system is open and groomed with good conditions. Eastern portion closed due to trail preparation.

Peace Garden (Bottineau, Rolla area): 7-inch snow depth. Closed for trail preparation.

Red River North (Grafton): 5-inch snow depth. Trails open and in good condition but won’t be groomed until more snow is received.

Red River South (Grand Forks, Fordville, Manvel area): 5-inch snow depth. Northern portion is in the process of opening. Grand Forks area trails are open and groomed Dec. 23. Additional grooming will take place, weather permitting.

Sargent County (Sargent and Richland counties): 7-inch snow depth. Trails are in the process of opening. Grooming will take place, weather permitting.

Sheyenne Valley (Jamestown, Valley City, Lisbon, Oakes area): 6-inch snow depth. Trails are in the process of opening and are being groomed.

Sno-Trails (McHenry & Ward counties): 18-inch snow depth. Trails opened and in good condition. Grooming will take place, weather permitting.

Southern Valley (Wahpeton, Mooreton area): 7-inch snow depth. Trails are open. Grooming will take place, weather permitting.

Downhill skiing:

Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: 8- to 15-inch base with packed powder conditions. All runs open and lift operating. Open Thursday through Sunday. 3 runs open on the Tube Park with limited rails and jumps on the Terrain Park.

Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: 25- to 35-inch base with all runs and Terrain Park open. Open Thursday through Sunday.

Huff Hills, Mandan: 20- to 28-inch base. 14 runs open with 2 lifts and Bunny Tow operating. Open Saturday and Sunday.

N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. State Parks cross-country skiing trail report. Annual or day use pass needed:

Fort Ransom, Fort Ransom: About 12 inches new snow with New Year’s storm.

Grahams Island, Devils Lake: Trails open, groomed, and in good condition with about 2 inches new snow. Total snow depth about 30 inches.

Icelandic, Cavalier: Trails in the campground and woods are groomed and in good condition with 6- to 8-inch base. Campground trails have an extra lane for snowshoeing.

Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau: Loop A closed due to flowing water. Loop B open and in excellent condition. Loop C open to the border monument and to the warming house and the Loops C and D intersection. Loop D open but in poor condition. Trail areas along the international border are closed due to poor and unsafe ice conditions.

Turtle River, Arvilla: About 5 inches new snow over the New Year’s weekend with trails groomed and in good conditions.

Numbers to know:

N.D. Game & Fish Department, main Bismarck office: 328-6300; Web site: (http://gf.nd.gov).

N.D. Game & Fish Department, Jamestown office: 253-6480.

Tags: getting outside, outdoors, recreation, hunting, fishing