Submitted Photo Summer is as much about cattails and cormorants as it is about the catch. Photo by Ashley Peterson, NDGF.

Summer in North Dakota sneaks up slowly but when it finally arrives, it comes in wide open skies, the smell of fresh-cut alfalfa, and the echo of boat motors humming across prairie lakes. It’s slow to arrive and too quick to exit.

Summer in North Dakota means fishing first and foremost. It’s part tradition, part religion. The state’s lakes and rivers become gathering places — not just for fish, but for friends and families. Fathers and daughters, uncles and nephews, and neighbors who haven’t seen each other since deer season come together with rods in hand and coolers full of sandwiches and stories. There’s something grounding in the rhythm of casting, reeling, waiting. Even when the bite is slow, you’re surrounded by nature in a way that feels timeless.

The lakes — both well-known and hidden gems — become sanctuaries. You don’t need a fancy rig or a new fiberglass hull. Plenty of us grew up in aluminum boats held together with rivets and elbow grease, and the memories are just as bright. It’s not about horsepower, it’s about heart.

Summer is as much about the cattails and cormorants as it is the catch. It’s in the soft loam of a lakebed, the rustle of reeds, the sound of meadowlarks overhead.

North Dakota’s summer is a season of motion – water lapping against docks, minnows darting in shallows, the flutter of flags on a windy hilltop. But it’s also a time of stillness: a bonfire at dusk, a drive down a gravel road with the windows down, the hum of crickets and frogs in the distance.

As July heads toward August, the shade of fall starts to hint at back-to-school sales, we cling to these golden moments. The daylight stretches long, but not forever. And maybe that’s what makes it so special. The knowledge that we only get a few short months of warmth, water, and wide-open weekends.

One sure way to ruin the memories made and the imprint of summer is an accident, a call to 911 or emergency room visit. Safety is key.

Boat safety rules, regulations

North Dakota law requires all children ages 10 and younger to wear a personal flotation device while in boats less than 27 feet in length.

The law also requires all personal watercraft users to wear a life jacket, as well as anyone towed on skis, tubes, boards or other similar devices.

However, state law allows an individual engaged in barefoot skiing or surfing to wear a wet suit (a life preserver must be on board the towing vessel), and a person who is at least 16 years of age can windsurf or boardsail without wearing a PFD.

Water users should make sure to wear life jackets of the appropriate size and in good condition. Failure to wear a personal flotation device is the main reason people lose their lives in water recreation accidents.

Water skiers and tubers should wear a life jacket with four nylon straps rather than one with a zipper, because straps are stronger than zippers upon impact with water. Anglers and people paddling a canoe, kayak or paddleboard should opt for a PFD that is comfortable enough to wear for an entire outing.

It is also important that children wear a PFD while swimming. Swimmers should know the water’s depth, as serious injuries can occur from diving. Large objects hidden below the water’s surface can lead to significant injury.

North Dakota boaters are also reminded that Class A and Class 1 vessels are required to have one hand, mouth or power-operated whistle audible for at least one-half mile. This regulation also applies to kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and jet skis.

In addition, marine VHF radios are an important part of boat safety that should not be improperly used by operators. These radios are intended for boat operators in distress and facing an emergency.

So, load up the boat, check the trailer lights, grab the sunscreen and the leeches. North Dakota summer isn’t over yet. And whether you’re chasing walleyes, towing kids behind on a tube, or just watching the clouds drift over a prairie lake, there’s no better place – and no better time – to be exactly where you are.