OUTDOOR NOTES
Registrations available for the Jan. 26-27 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshop at Cross Ranch State Park and Feb. 24-26 at Lake Metigoshe State Park. Classes include cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Cross Ranch and snowshoeing, wildlife tracking, winter survival and cross-country skiing at Metigoshe. Registrations available on the N.D. Game & Fish Department website, (gf.nd.gov). Call BOW coordinator Nancy Boldt, 328-6312 or send e-mail to ndgf@nd.gov for more information.
Feb. 15 Spring turkey applications due.
Tournaments:
Saturday: Lake Darling, Landing 3; Sand Lake.
Jan. 28: Devils Lake, 6-Mile Bay.
Fact Box
The Dakota Recreation Report is compiled by Patricia Stockdill, a freelance writer who lives in Garrison.
FISHING
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Loon Lake continues small perch success with a few keepers mixed in. Lake Metigoshe remains fair for walleye and northern pike. Missouri River remains good. Use caution on the ice on area lakes and check houses for any potential freezing down with some houses even falling through. Strawberry Lake (McLean County) had open water early in the week. Limited activity in the northwest due to poor ice conditions and some lakes with open water.
Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River / area lakes: Continued boat and shore activity around the Rifle Range south of Bismarck on the Missouri River. Tailrace remains good, as well. Anglers also going to Crooked and Brush lakes.
Bottineau, Four Seasons, Lake Metigoshe: Continued fair bluegill and walleye success.
Bottineau, Lake Metigoshe State Park, Lake Metigoshe: Steady success throughout area lakes. Park trails remain open for hiking. Sledding hill has a thin layer of packed snow.
Coleharbor, Totten Trail Restaurant, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Most houses are moved off Lake Audubon although those walking out are still finding some walleye and perch success.
Devils Lake, Ed's Bait, Devils Lake: Lake Irvine remains good for walleye. Minnewaukan Flats, Doc Hagen's, Fort Totten and around Camp Grafton remain good for walleye. Continued perch success in East Bay and Black Tiger Bay. Try 8 to 20 feet with rattling bait for walleye and 30 to 50 feet for perch with minnow heads or wax worms. Try Lake Irvine, north end of 6-Mile Bay or Morrison Lake and Sweetwater Bay for pike.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Anglers are able to get around more on the ice and more perch are showing up. Try East Bay, the towers, Lake Irvine or Military Point. Continued walleye and pike success, as well. Lakes north of Devils Lake remain active for pike.
Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea / area lakes: Lots of open water on Lake Sakakawea but anglers going to Tobacco Garden are finding sauger and walleye in 29 feet and deeper using jigs and minnows. Mel's Marina fair for pike but ice depth has decreased. Lots of activity on the Missouri River tailrace with anglers using Huskee jerks from shore.
Estevan, Saskatchewan Environment, Rafferty Dam and area lakes: Ice condition is poor, but anglers walking on the ice are finding fair to good walleye success in the 1-pound range. No reports from Boundary or Alameda dams.
Foxholm, Upper Souris NWR, Lake Darling: Fishing activity on Lake Darling dropped off when warm weather deteriorated ice conditions. Dam releases decreased so the Outlet Fishing Area iced over.
Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Missouri River remains good for walleye. Ice conditions deteriorated on Lake Audubon but anglers continue walking out and finding a few walleye.
Garrison, Six-Mile Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Fewer anglers on Lake Audubon with the poor ice. Missouri River remains good from boats for walleye.
Harvey, Coal Mine Lake and area lakes: Most houses are off area lakes with deteriorating conditions. Coal Mine Lake fair for northern pike but poor water clarity for spearing. Goose Lake good for perch. Walleye and pike are fair. Harvey Dam fair for northern pike. Perch success slowed on Hurdsfield Dam but still remains fair.
Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River / area lakes: Missouri River remains good from both boat and shore. Try Eckroth Bottoms and Little Heart from boat. Frohlich Dam and Sweetbriar Dam are hit-and-miss.
New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: No activity on the Van Hook Arm. Most anglers are ice-fishing from New Town north to White Earth Bay with a fair walleye and sauger bite. Antelope Flats producing sauger with a few walleye. Best success is at night.
Pick City, Scott's Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River: Missouri River remains good from shore using jigs and minnows. Also try crankbaits in the morning and evening. Fish are nice-sized with nice numbers. Continued boat success, as well, down river using jigs and minnows, drift jigging or vertical, or plastics. It's a matter of being there when the bite is on. Try the honey hole, cable crossing, stumps and coal veins.
Ruthville, Ruthville Store, Lake Darling and area lakes: Anglers continue going to Grano and Lake Darling with fair success. Lake Audubon slow to fair for walleye.
Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River / area lakes: Missouri and Yellowstone rivers remain good from boats, weather permitting, for walleye. Lake Sakakawea slowed for ice-fishing activity last week but some improved success over the past weekend. Best bite is early morning or late evening.
LAKE LEVELS
Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 11: 1,453.36 feet above mean sea level.
Stump Lake elevation, Jan. 11: 1,453.42 feet.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, Jan. 11: 1,839.3 feet; 20,000 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.
SKIING
Downhill skiing, Jan. 11:
Bottineau Winter Park: Some 6- to 10-inch base with groomed, manmade conditions. Five runs open with one lift and three handle tows operating.
Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: Some 15- to 25-inch base. No new snow. Open Thursday through Sunday with all runs open.
Huff Hills, Mandan: Some 10- to 12-inch base with five runs open, one lift and the Bunny Tow operating.
Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.: Some 16- to 20-inch base with machine-groomed, packed powder conditions. Fourteen runs open and five lifts operating.