Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes:

*North Dakota state park facilities, including vault toilets, restrooms and visitor centers remain closed to public use. Hiking trails are open for day use only. Please remember to implement social distancing.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Wildlife Mgmt. Areas also open to public use, although specific use regulations apply. Go to the Game & Fish Dept. website, (gf.nd.gov) for information.

*Check with other public land and recreation agencies, as well, regarding camping and public use regarding COVID-19 related restrictions.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, April 7: 1,449.25 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.09 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,840.37 MSL; 24,300 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game and Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No new reports. Anglers await ice-out.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Use extreme caution if venturing onto Devils Lake with honeycombing ice. Upper reaches of the Sheyenne River still have some areas of ice with water temperatures too cold for walleye activity yet.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Ice is honeycombing so anglers waiting for ice-out on main Devils Lake. Some activity in the Devils Lake feeder coulees but remember to keep at least 6 feet from other anglers.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Please follow federal CDC recommendations when shore-fishing and remain at least 6 feet from people when fishing Devils Lake feeder coulees.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Little to no activity with honeycombing and deteriorating ice conditions. Look for some activity along open water bridges and areas with flowing water, just be cognizant of social distancing.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: No activity with unsafe ice conditions and anglers waiting for open water.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Area lakes and the river quiet.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Area lakes opening along shorelines with no activity.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Open water around bridges but lake itself has deteriorating ice. No access available yet.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No activity with water puddling along shorelines and shorelines starting to open.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Little activity on Lake Audubon and Lake Sakakawea with open water shorelines. Spotty Missouri River tailrace success.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River continues producing activity from both boat and shore, depending on weather. Overall, though, success is spotty. Look for OK pike success as Lake Sakakawea shorelines open.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No reports from area lakes.

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

Migration:

*Last week’s snow brought some snow geese back into the northern tier of the state but they largely pushed out again. Look for migrating sparrows moving through. Bird feeders are busy during the cold and snow and as birds feed on their migration.

Numbers to know:

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Devils Lake office: (701) 662-3617.

*Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121 or (701) 328-9921.