OUTDOOR NOTES
Feb. 15: Spring turkey applications due.
Tournaments: Jan. 28: Devils Lake, 6-Mile Bay. Feb. 4: Lake Sakakawea, Van Hook Arm.
FISHING
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: White Earth Bay fair to good at times for sauger with a few walleye mixed in on Lake Sakakawea. Limited activity on Van Hook Arm but look for more anglers on the ice with colder weather creating better ice conditions. Watch varying ice depths. Missouri River remains fair for small walleye with continued walleye success on Lake Audubon. Crooked and Brush lakes producing some northern pike. McGregor Dam fair for perch. Watch shorelines on all area lakes. Devils Lake slow on the main bay area but around the Guard Camp on East Bay remains fair to good late in the day for walleye with a few perch on the side. Overall fair success. Loon Lake fair for small perch with fewer big fish showing up. Lake Metigoshe continues producing bluegill with a few other species mixed in. Long Lake producing a few pike and perch.
Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River / area lakes: Most activity on Lake Oahe is around Beaver Bay. Brush and Crooked lakes producing some northern pike with a few walleye and perch mixed in. Brush Lake pike are running a bit larger than those from Crooked Lake. Lake Audubon fair for walleye. Goose Lake slowed. More anglers starting to spear for pike on area lakes.
Fact Box
The Dakota Recreation Report is compiled by Patricia Stockdill, a freelance writer who lives in Garrison.
Bottineau, Four Seasons, Lake Metigoshe: Continued fair to good bluegill success with small perch mixed in along with occasional walleye and pike.
Bottineau, Lake Metigoshe State Park, Lake Metigoshe: Lake Metigoshe bite slowed. Some nice fish are being taken, but be patient.
Coleharbor, Totten Trail Restaurant, Lakes Audubon and Sakaka-wea: Houses were still off Lake Audubon early in the week but those walking out continue finding fair walleye success.
Devils Lake, Ed's Bait, Devils Lake: Lake Irvine, west side of Minnewaukan Flats, Doc Hagen's, the towers and Mission Bay remain good for walleye using rattling presentations. Work structure in 8 to 20 feet. Try the north end of 6-Mile Bay and small lakes north of Devils Lake. The dome house, Creel Bay, and Prouty's Point or Black Tiger Bay in East Bay continue producing perch.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good for walleye with some bigger fish starting to come in. Try Mauvais Coulee, dome house or East Bay. A few perch showing up in East Bay, Mauvais Coulee, Lake Irvine or the end of East Devils Lake. Try 10 to 40 feet for perch and walleye. Continued pike success throughout most of the lake.
Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Saka-kawea / area lakes: Tobacco Garden on Lake Sakakawea remains good for sauger in 25 to 40 feet using jigs and minnows. Mel's Marina continues producing some pike through the ice. Watch ice conditions, even with colder weather. Missouri River remains good for walleye using Huskee Jerks.
Estevan, Saskatche-wan Environment, Rafferty Dam and area lakes: Not many anglers on Rafferty Dam and even with cold weather helping to make more ice, depth varies so use caution. Anglers are finding an occasional perch and walleye but water is cloudy below 25 feet. No reports from Boundary or Alameda dams.
Foxholm, Upper Souris NWR, Lake Darling: Ice conditions improving with colder weather but some areas have varying ice depths. Fair for small perch with occasional walleye and pike.
Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audu-bon and Sakakawea: A few more anglers going to Lake Audubon with fair walleye success. Most activity remains around the east end in the late afternoon or early evening. Weather permitting, anglers still finding fair walleye success on the Missouri River.
Garrison, Six-Mile Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakaka-wea: Lake Audubon fair to good for walleye with best success in the evening. Ice conditions vary greatly, so check before driving with vehicles. Missouri River fair to good with lots of small walleye.
Harvey, Coal Mine Lake and area lakes: Coal Mine Lake fair for pike but water clarity poor for spearing. Goose Lake has continued perch success with fair walleye and pike activity. Harvey Dam air for northern pike. Hurdsfield Dam fair for perch and walleye.
New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Cold weather limiting activity but lake is gaining ice.
Pick City, Scott's Bait & Tackle, Lake Saka-kawea / Missouri River: Missouri River remains good for walleye from boat and shore, weather permitting. Try jigs and minnows or plastics from either boat or shore. Most boat activity is down river. Lake Audubon ice conditions improving, finally, but reports are limited with most houses moved off in warm weather. Look for more activity with better ice conditions.
Ruthville, Ruthville Store, Lake Darling and area lakes: Some pike, walleye and perch success on Lake Darling and Grano but cold weather limiting recent activity.
Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakaka-wea / Missouri River / area lakes: Lake Sakaka-wea producing an early and late walleye bite with most activity around White Earth Bay. Springbrook fair for perch. Limited reports from McGregor Dam.
LAKE LEVELS
Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 18: 1,453.37 feet above mean sea level.
Stump Lake elevation, Jan. 18: 1,453.44 feet.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, Jan. 18: 1,838.8 feet; 20,000 cubic feet per second average (cfs) Garrison Dam daily releases.
SKIING
Downhill skiing, Jan. 18:
Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: Some 8- to 16-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 with about 2 inches of new snow over the past week. All runs open. Open Thursday through Sunday.
Huff Hills, Mandan: Some 10- to 12-inch base with four runs, one lift and Bunny Tow open.
Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.: Some 16- to 20-inch base with machine groomed, manmade conditions. There are 20 runs open with five lifts.