Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Outdoor notes:
*Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges, and springs. Check conditions as you go along on the ice.
*Personal items such as game cameras, blinds, etc., must now be removed from all N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Wildlife Mgmt. Areas.
*Feb. 9 & 11: Fishing rod building workshop taught by Chuck DeRemer, N.D. Game & Fish Dept. auditorium, Bismarck. Cost - $150. Class size limited to 12. Email DeRemer, ([email protected]) to register.
*Feb. 14: Spring turkey applications due. Available online only at (gf.nd.gov).
Tournaments:
*Feb. 17: Jamestown Reservoir, Devils Lake, Lake Audubon.
Fishing:
*Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 30: 1,449.54 feet above mean sea level (MSL).
*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.59 MSL.
*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,839.12 MSL; 25,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.
*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Best walleye success across many Barnes County lakes is around the first hour of morning daylight and last hour after dusk. Try any shiny presentation but silver or gold seems to work for both walleye and perch. Move around a lot to locate perch. Area pike lakes generally fair to good, especially late afternoon. Try smelt and tip-ups in shallower water. East and Black Tiger bays remain the best location for perch with the most activity on Devils Lake. West end somewhat quiet. East-central area lakes somewhat slow. No new reports from Lake Sakakawea.
*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Try northern feeder lakes for walleye. Perch slowed on the east end of Devils Lake. Move around to locate them and then stay on them.
*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Northern feeder lakes continue producing the best walleye success. Main lake still somewhat slow. Perch slowed on the east end.
*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: No new reports.
*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Perch becoming tight-lipped around Creel Bay. Best perch success is on East Devils Lake but move around and work at least 30 feet. Good pike activity. Work 10 to 20 feet for walleye on the north end of 6-Mile Bay or Lake Irvine.
*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Best area lakes success is generally on local perch ponds.
*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Generally most area lakes continue producing some success.
*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued nice crappie success from Jamestown Reservoir. Eckelson Lake fair for pike.
*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Bait shop open Wednesday through Sunday. No new reports.
*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Main body of the lake producing a few walleye but it’s a case of quality over quantity. The occasional walleye caught has been nice-sized but limited numbers. Look for an occasional pocket of crappie. Perch remain slow.
*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Mixed reports from the east end of Lake Sakakawea with some reports of decent fish, though. Douglas Bay spotty but those taken are nice-sized. Try 12 to 30 feet with jigging Raps or jigs and minnows. Best success is in the evening. Bigger walleye coming towards evening hours also on Lake Audubon. Try a variety of depths.
*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Mediocre walleye bite on both Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon with best success during dark hours. Lots of anglers, though. Not many Missouri River reports.
*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Area lakes generally producing nice walleye and perch success.
*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Fair for crappie.
*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Some crappie success but bite is slowing a bit.
*Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: No new reports.
*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.
Downhill skiing:
*Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: 8- to 18-inch groomed base. 1 chair, 2 carpets, and 1 handle tow with 8 ski runs and 7 tubing lanes open.
*Buena Vista Ski Area, Bemidji, Minn .: 12- to 24-inch base. 8 runs and 2 lifts open.
*Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: 18- to 24-inch machine groomed base. Tube, beginner ski, and Terrain Park with Magic Carpet open.
*Huff Hills Ski Area, Mandan: 18- to 25-inch base with 2 lifts, bunny tow, and 8 groomed runs open.
Snowmobile N.D.:
*Red River North (Pembina & Walsh counties): Trail CR 4 open Oakwood to Warsaw, Trail CR 11 open Grafton to Warsaw, Trail 15 open Warsaw to Minto, trails 17, 18, 66, 81 north and south, and Minnesota Trail open with 3- to 5-inch base.
*All other trails closed.
N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. trails:
*Grahams Island, Devils Lake: Trails open and in generally fair condition.
*Icelandic, Cavalier: Trails open and in generally fair to good condition.
*Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau: No trail updates.
*Turtle River, Arvilla: Cross-country ski trails in fair condition. Fat tire bike and snowshoe trails also open but at user discretion for conditions. Sledding hill somewhat icy. Conditions could deteriorate with continued warm weather. Warming house open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Numbers to know:
*N.D. Game and Fish Department, main Bismarck office: (701) 328-6300, website: (http://gf.nd.gov).
*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Devils Lake office: (701) 662-3617.
*N.D. Game & Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.
*Report All Poachers:(800) 472-2121 or (701) 328-9921.
