Dakota recreation report for February 25, 2011

Jamestown Sun

Dakota Recreation Report

Feb. 25, 2011

Patricia Stockdill

Outdoor Notes:

Saturday: Northern Badlands Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation banquet, Bismarck AMVETS.

Tournaments:

Saturday: Silver 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. 23: 1,451.71 feet above mean sea level (msl).

Stump Lake elevation, Feb. 23: 1,451.63 msl.

Lake Sakakawea elevation, Feb. 23: 1,838.8 msl; 26,000 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. Game Wardens: Increasing fishing activity with a steady, if not slow, bite. Ice thickness still varies on area lakes with depths anywhere from 14 to 30 inches on Moon Lake, for example. Slush firmed up on area lakes, though, with cold temperatures. Smaller perch continue biting across many Barney County lakes. Try suspending wax worms a couple of feet off the bottom in 15 feet. Other scattered small lakes in Traill County and across southern counties, including Richland and Sargent, also saw activity. Small Cass County reservoirs had a decent bite on small panfish. Lake Audubon fair for walleye. Lake Sakakawea slow with little activity. Missouri River fair from the boats but high releases make it more challenging. Wing walls remain good for walleye.

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

Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Nicer weather bringing more anglers out with fair walleye and perch success. Try 6-Mile Bay or below the casino.

Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Ice conditions improving with several trails open on the north end of Creel Bay. Improving walleye and perch success with some northern pike mixed in.

Goose Lake, Harvey: Fair for walleye and perch but access limited to tracked vehicles.

Harvey Dam, Harvey: Fair for northern pike and perch with some limited access in a few areas.

Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fair for a mix of walleye, perch, and northern pike.

Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Fair for a mix of northern pike, perch, and crappie. A few more anglers on the ice but access is still best with snowmobiles. Some activity on small area lakes but limited success.

Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: A few more anglers on the ice but no new reports. Look for improving panfish bite as it gets closer into March. Walking or snowmobile access only.

Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Continued walleye success in the Missouri River tailrace, weather permitting, off the wing walls, rocks, and from boats. No activity on Lake Sakakawea.

Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: Most activity remains on Beaver Bay of Lake Oahe with fair northern pike and perch success. Some nice-sized pike are showing up near the creeks adjacent to the lake. Slush and water re-froze so it’s a little easier to get around. Weather permitting; the Missouri River tailrace was fair for walleye from boats, off the rocks from shore, and from the wing walls.

Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Anglers need to access with snowmobiles and go up river for the best crappie success.

Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Fair for perch with some nice-sized ones mixed in.

Snowmobile N.D. trail report. Beware of thin ice statewide:

Cattail (Steele, Cass, and Traill counties): 8-inch base. Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed.

East Central Valley (Fargo, Casselton area): 8-inch base. Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed.

Lake Region (Devils Lake area): 8-inch base. Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed.

Missouri Valley (Bismarck, Linton area): 4-inch base. Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed.

Red River North (Grafton): 8-inch base. Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed.

Red River South (Grand Forks, Fordville, Manvel area): 5-inch base. Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed.

Sargent County (Sargent and Richland counties): 8-inch base. Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed.

Sheyenne Valley (Jamestown, Valley City, Lisbon, Oakes area): 8-inch base. Trails open and in fair to good condition with some sections groomed.

Sno-Trails (McHenry & Ward counties): 6-inch base. Trails opened with some sections groomed, and in fair to good condition.

Southern Valley (Wahpeton, Mooreton): 7-inch base. Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed.

Downhill skiing:

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: About 2 inches new snow over the weekend with all runs open, groomed, and in good condition. All lifts operating. Open Thursday through Sunday.

Huff Hills, Mandan: 22- to 26-inch base with 3 inches new snow. 13 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: 4 inches of light, fluffy snow over the past weekend covering the hard, icy trails, which were groomed earlier in the week.

Grahams Island, Devils Lake: 12- to 16-inch base with fair conditions.

Icelandic, Cavalier: Poor and icy trail conditions. More snow is needed in order to groom.

Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau: Loop A closed due to open water. Loops B, C, and D in poor condition. Sledding hill open and in fair condition but extremely icy. Warming house open daily 8 a.m. to dark with ski rentals daily at the warming house.

Turtle River, Arvilla: 16- to 20-inch base with fair 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.

RAP, Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121.

Tags: getting outside, outdoors, fihsing, hunting, recreation, wildife