Dakota recreation report for February 11, 2011

Jamestown Sun

Dakota Recreation Report

Feb. 11, 2011

Patricia Stockdill

Outdoor Notes:

Wednesday: Spring turkey applications due.

Feb. 23: Wildlife Wednesday: N.D. Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, 7 p.m., wildlife management and how to age wildlife.

Tournaments:

Saturday: Lake Audubon; Mundt Lake; Lake LaMoure.

Feb. 19: Jamestown Reservoir; Lake Josephine; Devils Lake.

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, Feb. 9: 1,451.69 feet above mean sea level (msl).

Stump Lake elevation, Feb. 9: 1,451.66 msl.

Lake Sakakawea elevation, Feb. 9: 1,839.4 msl; 26,000 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. Game Wardens: Warmer weather last week brought more anglers out to small southeastern and south-central N.D. lakes throughout McIntosh, LaMoure, Sargent, and Barnes counties. Access wasn’t much better but at least the weather was for awhile. Ice seems a bit steadier on some lakes with slush problems starting to firm up. However, some lakes still have less than 20 inches of ice. Northern pike are the best bet working shallower water using tip-ups and smelt. Some perch and occasional walleye mixed in. Try a simple presentation of bright jigs with wax worms for perch. Bite still isn’t fast and furious and is in more spurts but at least anglers are getting some fish. Snowmobiles and tracked vehicles remain the best option for access. Adams Lake producing a few perch with anglers walking or snowmobiling out about 75 to 100 yards. Missouri River wing walls continue producing walleye, weather permitting.

Coal Mine Lake, Anamoose: Activity limited with access restricted to tracked vehicles.

Devils Lake, Ed’ Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Access remains limited to snowmobiles and tracked vehicles with little activity. Look for more anglers on the ice with warmer weather. Those going out are finding limited success.

Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Those going out with snowmobiles and tracked vehicles are finding fair success.

Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Few anglers on the ice but try a morning and evening bite for walleye around the casino. Pelican Lake and Lake Irvine have extremely limited access. Creel Bay has trails to Rocky Point over to Military Point accessing off Woodland Resort with an access fee.

Goose Lake, Harvey: Activity limited with access restricted to tracked vehicles.

Harvey Dam, Harvey: Fair for northern pike with limited access but anglers can get around on some areas of the lake.

Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’ Sooper Stop, Jamestown: A few more anglers on the ice but access is limited.

Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: When there’s better weather and access a few more anglers are on the reservoir off the west side. Best way to get on is with snowmobiles or walking.

Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No activity with no access.

Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Good numbers of anglers on the ice on the west end of Lake Audubon. Respectable numbers of small walleye with occasional keeper mixed in. Anglers can access off the East Totten boat ramp. Also try the east end by the cabin site but access limited to walking, snowmobiles or 4-wheelers and portable houses. Some reports of perch success from the east end of Lake Sakakawea along the north shore. Some activity around Garrison Bay as well.

Lake Sakakawea, Scott’ Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Little activity on Lake Sakakawea. Watch slumping shorelines and pressure ridges with dropping water elevations. Missouri River tailrace continues producing walleye from boats, weather permitting. Try jigs and minnows. Wing walls also good but ice over in good weather.

Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: More anglers on Lake Oahe, weather permitting.

Heavy snow cover on the Red River making access difficult along with varying ice depths. A few anglers are finding goldeye success, with smoked fish the reward.

Spiritwood Lake, Dan’ Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Little activity and no reports.

Snowmobile N.D. trail report:

Cattail (Steele, Cass, and Traill counties): 15-inch base. Trail open, groomed and in good condition.

East Central Valley (Fargo, Casselton area): Trails open and in fair to good condition. 17-inch base.

Lake Region (Devils Lake area): 13-inch base. Trails open, groomed, and in good condition. Snow is hard and wind-blown.

May-Port (Mayville, Portland area): 12-inch base. Trail open, groomed, and in good condition.

Missouri Valley (Bismarck, Linton area): 9-inch base. Trails open and in fair to good condition with sections groomed this week.

North Central (Leeds, Rugby area): 12-inch base. Trails open and in good condition with western portion groomed. Snow is hard and wind-blown.

Northeast (Cavalier, Langdon, Edinburg area): 8-inch base. Trails open, groomed, and good condition.

Peace Garden (Bottineau, Rolla area): 8-inch base. Trails open and in good condition. Eastern portion groomed with western portion holding up well and scheduled for grooming this week. Several sections re-routed due to thin ice.

Red River North (Grafton): 8-inch base. Trails open, groomed, and in good condition.

Red River South (Grand Forks, Fordville, Manvel area): 8-inch base. Trails open, groomed, and in good condition.

Sargent County (Sargent and Richland counties): 13-inch base. Trails open but not groomed due to high winds.

Sheyenne Valley (Jamestown, Valley City, Lisbon, Oakes area): 12-inch base. Trails open and in fair to good condition but won’ be groomed.

Sno-Trails (McHenry & Ward counties): 19-inch base. Trails opened with some sections groomed, and in good condition.

Southern Valley (Wahpeton, Mooreton): 13-inch base. Trails open and in good condition. Grooming will be done, weather permitting.

Downhill skiing:

Bears Den Mountain, Fort Ransom: Open Friday through Sunday with all runs open.

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. All runs open with 2 new features to Terrain Park Dusting of new snow. Open Thursday through Sunday.

Huff Hills, Mandan: 26- to 31-inch base with all runs open and lifts operating.

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

Fort Ransom, Fort Ransom: Trails open and in good condition, although somewhat wind-blown.

Grahams Island, Devils Lake: Trails open and in fair condition with about 40-inch base and 2 inches new snow.

Icelandic, Cavalier: Good trail conditions with about an inch of new snow. Conditions could be a little slick under the light snow.

Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau: Loop A closed. Loop B groomed and in good to excellent condition. Loop C open, groomed to the Boundary Monument, and in good to excellent condition. Loop D open, groomed to the international boundary, and in good to excellent condition. Sledding hill open and in great condition. Ski rentals available daily.

Turtle River, Arvilla: Trails in fair condition and groomed, weather permitting, with 12- to 16-inch base. No new snow.

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, hunting, fishing, wildlife