Dakota Recreation Report: January 25, 2021

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 and don’t move around at night.

Tournaments

(check with event organizers for scheduling updates):

*Jan. 30: Devils Lake, 6-Mile Bay.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 19: 1,448.53 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.57 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,838.8 MSL; 16,500 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from Devils Lake or east-central area lakes. New Town and White Earth Bay slow to fair for walleye on Lake Sakakawea. Use extreme caution on the ice. Van Hook Arm opened up.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Fluctuating weather temperatures and wind creating inconsistent walleye and perch success. Some larger pike showing up but not any big numbers of fish overall for spearers.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Generally fair success with best perch activity in deeper water on sunny days. Fair walleye success in 12 to 14 feet with jigging Raps. Use extreme caution on the ice due to variable ice depths.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Continued activity throughout area lakes but reports remain limited.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Area lakes around Cleveland and Medina, including Trautman and Schock lakes, are good for walleye using jigs and minnows. Also try Hobart Lake. Work 15 to 20 feet. Some nice-sized walleye coming from Jamestown Reservoir. Also try Black Tiger Bay on Devils Lake. Area rivers slow.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Good numbers of walleye and perch in deeper water. Test conditions along the way with variable ice depths. Look for spots of open water and thin ice around the bridges and watch for pressure ridges.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Increasing numbers of anglers out but not driving with vehicles yet, accessing with UTVs and ATVs. Look for a mix of walleye and perch.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Last week’s winds weakened ice on Lake Sakakawea back bays on the east end. Best Lake Audubon success is in late afternoon, early evening, and after midnight but ice conditions are extremely dangerous on both lakes.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow with the best activity from shore off the rocks at night. Try casting crankbaits.

*Pipestem Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Some activity but use caution with areas of open water.

N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. trails:

*North Dakota state parks remain open with trails usable for hiking. Check with individual parks for other available amenities this winter. Conditions vary.

Downhill skiing (conditions can vary):

*Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: Open Friday through Sunday. Contact (701) 263-4556 for more information.

*Buena Vista Ski Area, Bemidji, Minn .: 18- to 30-inch packed powder base with six runs open.

*Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: Open Saturday and Sundays. Five runs, Beginner Hill, and Magic Carpet open. Contact (701) 549-3600 for schedule and covid-19 information.

*Huff Hills Ski Area, Mandan: Open Saturday and Sunday. 10- to 20-inch base with machine groomed, packed powder condition; 40% of the Terrain Park and runs available with three lifts.

Snowmobile N.D .:

*Trails remain closed until better snow conditions.

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.