Dakota Recreation Report: Feb. 03, 2020

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.

*Feb. 12: Spring turkey applications due. Go online to the ND Game & Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov).

Tournaments:

*Feb. 8: Lake Ashtabula, Frettim Lake, Sand Lake.

*Feb. 8: Lake Sakakawea, Pick City.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 28: 1,448.97 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.91 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,838.04 MSL; 24,400 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: East-central lakes generally slow, although Silver Lake producing a few walleye. Access difficult on may small lakes. Lots of activity on Devils Lake with generally OK access throughout most of the lake. Overall slow walleye and perch success, however. North-central area lakes slow overall, although Lake Metigoshe producing a few bluegill and occasional pike. Access is OK but icy after last weekend’s rain. East end of Lake Sakakawea generally slow with variable ice conditions. Use caution.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Try 30 feet and deeper for perch; 20 feet and shallower for walleye. Perch remain somewhat tough and elusive with scattered success. Try mouth of Creel Bay, Black Tiger and East bays, East Devils Lake or the casino. Limited pike reports, although some scattered success. Try rocky structure or flooded timber. Access fair overall.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Northern feeder lakes fair for walleye. Inconsistent perch bite with most anglers still working East Devils Lake.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Scattered perch success at best in the flats with occasional walleye.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Fair to good walleye success with better success is in the afternoon in 17 to 25 feet. Try Military Point, Creel Bay, or over on Stump Lake. Perch are more finicky but work just a couple of inches off the bottom in 25 to 40 feet. OK access OK but watch for large snowdrifts on the ice.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Lots of snow on the ice and along shorelines of area lakes continues to make access difficult.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Lots of activity around Cleveland area lakes with fair to good walleye and perch. Jamestown Reservoir remains closed to access.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Access available off Ashtabula Crossing almost to the creek. Slushy conditions south of creek, however, so drill test holes if venturing beyond. Fair for a mix of crappie, perch, and walleye in 15 to 20 feet. Try the channel or move around to locate schools if channel is slow.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: More anglers on the ice but most are moving with tracked vehicles to stay on top of snow and slush. Fair but inconsistent walleye success with a few perch mixed in.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Scattered walleye success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea with anglers seeing nice numbers of fish but a finicky bite. Work a variety of depths throughout Douglas, Steinke, and Centennial bays. Scattered success on Lake Audubon, as well, with anglers moving around more. An increasing numbers of houses moved along the south shore.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace continues producing walleye from boats with the ramp ice-free. Try 3-way swivels or crankbaits. Also, try casting crankbaits the rocks from shore. Lake Sakakawea fair for pike spearing with most activity along Wolf Creek. Occasional walleye, as well. Lake Audubon spotty.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Most area lakes, including Clear, Antelope, Hinsz, Goose, and Stober lakes, generally slow. Ice conditions generally good for driving but remain cautious.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Reservoir access remains closed.

Downhill skiing (conditions can vary):

*Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: 10- to 30-inch base with seven trails and bunny slope groomed and in good condition. Chair and carpet lifts open. Three sunny side and four backside tubing runs and lift open.

*Buena Vista Ski Area, Bemidji, Minn .: 18- to 32-inch machine groomed base with 14 runs and Terrain Park.

*Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: 5 trails, Harebell beginner trail, and Terrain Park open Friday through Sunday.

*Huff Hills Ski Area, Mandan: 20- to 24-inch machine groomed base with 8 runs, bunny lift, and all chairs open.

Snowmobile N.D. trails (conditions can vary):

*Cattail (Barnes, Cass, Steele, & Traill counties): 3- to 9-inch base with trails open and in fair to good condition.

*East-Central Valley (Cass & Richland counties): 6 - to 12-inch base with all trails open and in good condition.

*Lake Region (Nelson & Ramsey counties): Sections open between Devils Lake and Lakota on trails 4, 5, and 6 with 3- to 6-inch base.

*Missouri Valley (Burleigh & Emmons counties): Wilton, Sterling, Moffit, & Hague trails open with 3- to 6-inch base with overall fair at best conditions. Watch for open water along sloughs and lake areas.

*Northeast (Cavalier, Pembina, & Walsh counties): 5- to 8-inch base with North and South Nekoma, Cruisers, Tri-County, and Sandhills trails open.

*Sheyenne Valley (Barnes, Dickey, LaMoure, Ransom, & Stutsman counties): 6- to 10-inch base. J1, J2, V2, V5, V6, L1, & M1 trails open and in fair condition. McKinnes Trail moved to Hwy. 46.

*Red River North (Pembina & Walsh counties): All trails open except for the Cavalier Trail. 2- to 5-inch base. Good conditions in ditches.

*Southern Valley (Richland County): 6- to 10-inch base with all trails open and in good condition. .

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.