FISHING
Tournaments: Saturday: Lake Sakakawea, Van Hook Arm.
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: New Town and White Earth Bay on Lake Sakakawea slowed somewhat but still fair at times for walleye and sauger. Limited activity on the Van Hook Arm. McGregor Dam fair for perch. Lake Metigoshe producing a few bluegill with Loon Lake producing a few perch. Good northern pike success in the Outlet Fishing Area below Lake Darling. Lake Audubon fair for walleye. Best success seems shortly before and after sundown using small minnows. Brush and Crooked lakes remain fair for small perch. Devils Lake fair for perch off Camp Grafton.
Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River / area lakes: Continued walleye success on Lake Audubon with activity on the south side and northeast corner. Some spearing success for pike on Beaver Bay of Lake Oahe working east and west of the Highway 1804 Bridge. Some walleye mixed in.
Bottineau, Four Seasons, Lake Metigoshe: Continued fair for bluegill on Lake Metigoshe with numbers of small non-keeper perch. Occasional keeper mixed in. Occasional walleye in the evening. Some pike success, as well, using smelt. Loon Lake remains fair to good for perch.
Bottineau, Lake Metigoshe State Park, Lake Metigoshe: More bluegill starting to show up on Lake Metigoshe. Lots of small perch with some nice ones mixed in. Trails remain open for hiking.
Fact Box
The Dakota Recreation Report is compiled by Patricia Stockdill, a freelance writer who lives in Garrison.
Coleharbor, Totten Trail Restaurant, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: More perch showing up on Lake Audubon with ice conditions improving so anglers can get around on more of the lake.
Devils Lake, Ed's Bait, Devils Lake: Continued good walleye and perch success. Try East Bay, behind Pop's and Prouty's Point or north end of the Main Bay around Camp Grafton and the towers. Work 16 to 45 feet for perch and 8 to 20 feet walleye, depending on structure. Pike success remains good from small lakes north of Devils Lake and Lake Irvine.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued good walleye, perch and pike success. Try Lake Irvine for walleye and perch, East Bay or Rocky and Military points. Work shallow down to 40 feet for walleye with perch in the deeper water.
Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea / area lakes: Tobacco Garden remains good in 29 to 40 feet for sauger. Try the west side for walleye.
Foxholm, Upper Souris NWR, Lake Darling: Lots of good pike success below Lake Darling Dam for both spearing and hook-and-line. Fair for walleye. Lake Darling ice improving and anglers starting to move around more. Look for more activity and success as houses get back on the ice.
Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Lake Audubon remains fair on the east end. No reports from the Missouri River.
Garrison, Six-Mile Bait and Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Ice conditions improving on Lake Audubon but use caution on white ice and watch shoreline for thin ice. Fair to good walleye bite with most activity on the east end around Velva Bay and north of the refuge headquarters. No reports from Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River.
Harvey, Coal Mine Lake and area lakes: Coal Mine Lake fair for pike but water too cloudy for spearing. Goose Lake good for perch with fair walleye success. Harvey Dam fair for pike but inconsistent success. Fair for pike. Hurdsfield Dam fair for perch and walleye.
Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River / area lakes: Mud Lake near Medina good for perch with some running up to 2 pounds. Sweetbriar Dam fair for northern pike. Beaver Bay and 4-Mile Bay producing northern pike on Lake Oahe. Some walleye mixed in at Beaver Bay.
New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Not much activity yet on the Van Hook Arm.
Pick City, Scott's Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River: Missouri River remains good for walleye from both boat and shore, weather permitting. Most success is with jigs and minnows from boat and shore. Also try crankbaits from shore. Look for more ice-fishing activity as anglers move houses back onto Lake Audubon.
Ruthville, Ruthville Store, Lake Darling and area lakes: More anglers out lately with fair to good pike success from the Outlet Fishing Area below Lake Darling Dam. Some walleye mixed in, as well. Grano also producing pike.
Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River / area lakes: Lake Sakakawea remains fair to good around White Earth Bay. Best success seems late afternoon, early evening in deep water.
Skiing
Downhill skiing, Jan. 25:
Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: Some 8- to 16-inch base with groomed, machine-made conditions. Five runs, one lift, three handle tows and three Tube Park runs open.
Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: About 3 inches new snow with 15- to 25-inch base. Open Thursday through Sunday. All runs open.
Huff Hills, Mandan: Some 10- to 24-inch base with packed powder. Five runs, two lifts and bunny tow open.
Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.: Some 16- to 22-inch base with machine groomed conditions. Twenty runs with five lifts open.