Dakota Recreation Report

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. 22: Dakota Valley Fowlers Delta Waterfowl banquet, Valley City Eagles, 5 p.m.

Tournaments:

*Feb. 22: Alkaline Lake, Lake Audubon, Devils Lake.

*Feb. 29: Lake Josephine.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation: 1,449 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.91 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,838.13 MSL; 24,700 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: East-central area lakes remain slow. Devils Lake generally slow but look for some improving walleye success in the Minnewaukan Flats. Try early morning or late in the evening for walleye. Move around for perch. Ice conditions are generally good with not much snow on the ice. Watch for drifts, however.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Nicer weather packed snow so there is generally good travel on Devils Lake. Best walleye success remains around Creel Bay or the casino. Work shallow for walleye in morning or evening. Try rattling spoons with minnow heads. Work deep for perch.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Generally slow walleye and perch activity. Scattered pike success.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Walleye and perch has slowed. Try small minnow dead stick rigs with light bobbers for the finicky perch bite. Also try jigging lures. Try buckshots or jigging Raps for walleye.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Anglers on several area lakes with scattered success.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Lots of activity at area lakes. Jamestown Reservoir access closed.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Fair mix of crappie, walleye and perch. Access remains good.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: South side of Lake Audubon has some walleye success. Lots of houses along the south shore and off the East Totten boat ramp. Several anglers moved off the east end of Lake Sakakawea.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River producing walleye down river using jigs and minnows, 3-way swivels, or crankbaits. Wing walls producing success at times with OK shore success at night. Lake Sakakawea generally slow.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Area lakes remain slow with anglers finding some occasional success.

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

*Spiritwood Lake, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.

Downhill Skiing:

*Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: 10- to 25-inch base with all runs open. 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 open.

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

*Huff Hills Ski Area, Mandan: 24- to 30-inch machine groomed, packed powder base. Eight runs, bunny hill, three lifts, and Terrain Park green lift open. Open daily.

*Hyland Ski Area, Bloomington, Minn.: 36- to 54-inch machine groomed, variable base with 12 runs, six lifts, and all Terrain Park features open.

Snowmobile N.D. trails:

*Cattail (Barnes, Cass, Steele, & Traill counties): 5- 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): All trails open except Trail 6 with 4- to 8-inch base.

*Missouri Valley (Burleigh & Emmons counties): Wilton, Sterling, Moffit, and Hague trails open with 3- to 6-inch base. Watch for possible water on lakes and sloughs. Slow down and beware of changing conditions. Thin ice west of McKenzie on Sterling Trail by culvert on large slough. Open water on Moffit Trail along highway north of Moffit. Chevrons in place directing traffic to shoulder.

*Northeast (Cavalier, Pembina, & Walsh counties): 5- to 8-inch base with all trails open and in good condition.

*Red River North (Pembina & Walsh counties): All trails open with 4- to 8-inch base. Good conditions in ditches.

*Red River South (Grand Forks and Walsh counties) West Loop closed but other trails open and in fair to good condition with some ice glaze. 4- to 8-inch base.

*Sheyenne Valley (Barnes, Dickey, LaMoure, Ransom, & Stutsman counties): 8- to 12-inch base. J1, V2, V5, V6, L1, & M1 trails open. McKinnes Trail moved to Hwy. 46.

*Southern Valley (Richland County): 8- to 14-inch base with all trails open and in fair to good condition.

*Other trails closed until there are better snow conditions.