Jamestown Sun
Dakota Recreation Report
Jan. 28, 2011
Patricia Stockdill
Outdoor Notes:
Spring turkey applications available online, N.D. Game and Fish Department Web site, (gf.nd.gov).
Feb. 1: Spring turkey applications available at vendors.
Feb. 2: Wildlife Wednesday, 7 p.m., N.D. Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway. Topic: Wildlife tracks.
Feb. 5 & 6: NDBA State 300 qualifier archery tournament, Metro Rec Center, Fargo, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sunday.
Feb. 16: Spring turkey applications due.
Tournaments:
Saturday: Devils Lake, 6-Mile Bay.
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.
Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 26: 1,451.66 feet above mean sea level (msl).
Stump Lake elevation, Jan. 26: 1,451.57 msl.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, Jan. 26: 1,840.2 msl; 25,500 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. Game Wardens: Smaller panfish continue being caught on lakes in Cass and Steele Counties but size is rather small and action is hit and miss. At times it’s a long wait between the miss and hit. A word of caution from Game and Fish fisheries biologists is that while checking dissolved oxygen levels in Barnes County, they’re finding ice thickness on area lakes isn’t what many assume with 18-20 inches of ice when more was anticipated. Rivers in and around the Fargo area, including the Red, Sheyenne, and Maple rivers, remain extremely hazardous and most likely will remain that way through the remaining winter. No reports from Devils Lake. Ice depth varies greatly on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. No reports from Lake Audubon. When fishing the Missouri River wing walls, remember to lower any non-keeper fish back into the water and don’t toss them 20 feet down to the water.
Coal Mine Lake, Anamoose: Access limited to tracked vehicles, although there could still be some northern pike activity for those venturing out.
Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Access limited to tracked vehicles but anglers are finding a mix of walleye and perch in 18 to 22 feet near the casino and Doc Hagen’s. Fort Totten area producing walleye in 18 to 25 feet. Try Bird Island. Some perch success at the mouth of Creel Bay, in front of the country club or deep off of the casino in 36 to 45 feet.
Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Access remains limited to tracked vehicles but those going are finding walleye success with some perch mixed. Try the towers, Rocky Point, Doc Hagen’s, and Walford’s Bay.
Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Limited reports with access remaining difficult.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: A few trails on Creel Bay but access remains limited. Slush and water is still on the lake. Best walleye success is when anglers can move around more on the lake with snowmobiles or walking.
Goose Lake, Harvey: Access limited to tracked vehicles.
Harvey Dam, Harvey: Fair for northern pike and walleye but access extremely difficult, at best.
Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited reports from the reservoir. No reports from small area lakes.
Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: A few more anglers are going on the lake with snowmobiles providing the best access. Most accessing around Pelican Point and finding fair walleye success. Bigger fish seem to come late afternoon and early evening.
Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No reports with limited activity and limited access. Anyone going out is accessing with snowmobiles or other tracked vehicles.
Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Limited activity on Lake Sakakawea. No reports from Lake Audubon. Weather permitting, the Missouri River tailrace remains fair for nice-sized walleye.
Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: No reports from Lake Audubon with access remaining difficult on both Audubon and Lake Sakakawea. Missouri River tailrace remains fair to good but inconsistent for walleye, weather and wind permitting. Try jigs and minnows or Gulp. Also try the rocks using crankbaits. Lots of small walleye from the wing walls. Lower the non-keepers back, don’t throw them, which kills the fish.
Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: Good numbers of small walleye from Beaver Bay on Lake Oahe.
Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Little activity.
Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Not many reports.
Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Some reports of small perch.
Snowmobile N.D. trail report:
Cattail (Steele, Cass, and Traill counties): 15-inch snow depth. Trail open, groomed and in good condition.
East Central Valley (Fargo, Casselton area): Trails open, in good condition, and groomed. 16-inch snow depth.
Lake Region (Devils Lake area): 12-inch snow depth. Trails open, groomed, and in good condition.
May-Port (Mayville, Portland area): 10-inch snow depth. Trail open, groomed, and in good condition.
Missouri Valley (Bismarck, Linton area): 9-inch snow depth. Trails open, groomed, and in good condition.
North Central (Leeds, Rugby area): 11-inch snow depth. Trails open, groomed, and in good condition with fluffy snow.
Northeast (Cavalier, Langdon, Edinburg area): 7-inch snow depth. Trails open and in good condition. Southern trails, including Fairdale, Adams, and Milton are groomed with remaining trails groomed as weather permits.
Peace Garden (Bottineau, Rolla area): 8-inch snow depth. Trails open, groomed, and in good condition. Several sections re-routed due to thin ice.
Red River North (Grafton): 7-inch snow depth. Trails open and in good condition with grooming underway as weather permits.
Red River South (Grand Forks, Fordville, Manvel area): 10-inch snow depth. Trails open, in good condition, and groomed if weather permits.
Sargent County (Sargent and Richland counties): 13-inch snow depth. Trails open but no update available on conditions.
Sheyenne Valley (Jamestown, Valley City, Lisbon, Oakes area): 10-inch snow depth. Trails open and in good condition with grooming pending weather conditions.
Sno-Trails (McHenry & Ward counties): 19-inch snow depth. Trails opened, groomed, and in good condition.
Southern Valley (Wahpeton, Mooreton area): 11-inch snow depth. Trails open, in good condition, and groomed.
Downhill skiing:
Bears Den Mountain, Fort Ransom: All runs open with about 12-inch base. Open Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday.
Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: 10- to 18-inch base with packed powder conditions and 8 inches new snow. All lifts and runs open, including Terrain Park and 3 tubing runs. Open Thursday through Sunday with Thursday and Friday night skiing.
Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: 25- to 35-inch base with all runs open and lifts operating. Open Thursday through Sunday.
Huff Hills, Mandan: 22- to 28-inch base with an inch of new snow early in the week. All runs open with 2 lifts and Bunny Tow operating.
N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. State Parks cross-country skiing trail report. Annual or day use pass needed:
Fort Ransom, Fort Ransom: Trails wind-blown but will be groomed, weather permitting.
Grahams Island, Devils Lake: Trails open and in good condition with about 36 inches of snow depth. Groomed when weather permits.
Icelandic, Cavalier: Trails in good condition with some new snow over the past week. Grooming will take place, weather permitting.
Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau: Loop A closed with poor ice. Loop B open, groomed, and in good condition. Loop C open, groomed to the boundary marker, and in excellent condition. Loop D open, groomed to the international boundary, and in good condition. Sledding hill groomed and in good condition. Trail head warming house open daily from 8 a.m. to dark. Cross-country ski trails available daily.
Turtle River, Arvilla: Trails open and groomed with a light dusting of snow over the old tracks but will be groomed, weather permitting.
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.
RAP, Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121.
Tags: getting outside, outdoors, recreation, fishing, hunting, wildlife
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