March 22, 2013
Patricia Stockdill
Outdoor Notes:
Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges, and springs. Check with local bait shops for any ice condition information.
Permanent fish houses must now be off area lakes and can’t be left on state or federal-managed property
Ice conditions can change rapidly on state lakes so use caution.
Saturday: Sargent County Pheasants Forever banquet, Cayuga Community Center, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday: Moose, elk, and bighorn sheep applications due.
April 1: New fishing and furbearer licenses due.
April 1: Snowmobile North Dakota snowmobile trails close.
Fishing:
Devils Lake elevation, March 20: 1,451.56 feet above mean sea level (MSL).
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Many small Richland, Sargent, LaMoure, and Barnes county lakes have little activity due to heavy snow and little if any access. Some activity on Lake Ashtabula, however. Best access to any southeastern lake is with snowmobile or walking. The best activity seems to be on North Golden Lake with its ongoing small perch bite. A good lake for kids or anyone just wanting some activity. Try jigs and wax worms or perch eyes. Little activity on Casselton Reservoir. Try walking out for eater-sized pike working shallower areas off deeper cuts. Many reservoirs have water drawdowns and ice conditions are extremely dangerous. Stay off the Red River. Little activity on east-central lakes with limited access at best. No report from Devils Lake.
Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Heavy snow limiting activity on the lake to snowmobile only and bring an ice auger extension.
Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Tracked vehicles only on Devils Lake but anglers continue finding walleye and pike where they can move around. Anglers that can move around to locate perch are finding some success. Best overall activity is on sunny days.
Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Limited activity with access limited to snowmobiles.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Access limited to tracked vehicles only on Devils Lake. Use caution throughout the lake with areas of slush pockets beneath the snow. Those going are finding tough perch success although anglers continue marking fish. Fair walleye success early in the morning. Fair to good pike success.
Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Use caution around the river with dam releases starting, as well the potential for changing reservoir ice conditions. Look for river activity to get underway soon. Anglers still walking onto some small area lakes with continued fair success. Best access is with snowmobiles or tracked vehicles. Those going on the north end of the reservoir continue finding a mix of walleye and crappie.
Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited activity due to poor access.
Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Access is limited, at best, with little fishing activity on the lake.
Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Little activity with fish houses now off lakes. Ice conditions remain OK but access could be difficult in spots.
Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Few anglers on the Missouri River but weather permitting, there is a sporadic walleye bite from both boat and shore with fair to good pike success. Lake Sakakawea continues producing pike, although few anglers on the ice.
Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Access extremely difficult on area lakes so check conditions before venturing out. However, those anglers getting to Hurdsfield and Antelope lakes could find some perch and walleye yet. Coal Mine Lake fair for pike. Harvey Dam has some pike activity. Goose Lake continues producing perch and pike for the few venturing out.
Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Limited access but those that can get on the reservoir continued finding some crappie success.
Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Not much activity.
Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Generally quiet.
Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Little activity.
Snowmobile North Dakota:
Sheyenne Valley (Barnes, Dickey, LaMoure, Ransom, & Stutsman counties): 4- to 7-inch base with all trails open except M-1 and McKinnes trails, which remain closed.
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