Dakota Recreation Report: Feb. 6, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*Spring turkey applications now available. Go online to (gf.nd.gov) to apply.

*All equipment such as game cameras and tree stands, etc. must be removed from all N. D. Game & Fish Dept. WMAs.

*Check on ice houses occasionally to make certain they haven’t iced in after warming weather.

*Be mindful of parking when accessing area lakes; not blocking roadways or snow removal operations.

*Reminder that it’s illegal to chase, harass, or pursue any wildlife species with motorized vehicle.

*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.

*Feb. 15: Spring turkey applications due.

*Feb. 18: Dakota Valley Fowlers Delta Waterfowl banquet, Valley City Eagles Club, 5 p.m.

Tournaments:

*Feb. 11: Stump Lake.

*Feb. 18: Jamestown Reservoir, Pelican Point; Devils Lake; Lake Audubon.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 31: 1,449.31 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.32 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,828.01 MSL; 23,600 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Cold weather limited activity with a few anglers using their permanent houses on Devils Lake but anglers going out found an occasional walleye. Little activity on east-central area lakes. Lake Audubon producing a few walleye but anglers working deep water should plan to keep their catches. Travel on area lakes slowly improving but continues to be rough with lots of snow yet. No reports from Lake Sakakawea.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Nice walleye bite on Wolford’s Bay with good access. No reports from other areas on Devils Lake.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Look for a perch bite on sunny days with most anglers working Black Tiger Bay. Locate structure for walleye with an overall fair bite throughout much of the lake.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Hit-and-miss walleye success around Creel Bay but generally fair success in areas with good access and ability to move around on the lake. Lots of slush on the ice.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Activity remains limited throughout area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Limited activity across area lakes, including Jamestown Reservoir.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Cold and windy spell slowed angler numbers but look for scattered walleye activity on area lakes.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Lots of activity throughout much of the lake with a mix of perch, walleye, and occasional crappie. Limited pike reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Overall fair perch success with occasional walleye mixed in. Limited activity for other species.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: East end of Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon spotty for walleye. Move around on both lakes to locate fish, including from the bays to the main lakes.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Centennial Bay on the east end of Lake Sakakawea producing some nice-sized walleye but generally both Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon are spotty for walleye success.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Wolf Creek on Lake Sakakawea producing a mix of pike and walleye with best success in the morning and evening in low light hours. Limited activity on the Missouri River tailrace.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Most area lakes producing success but limited reports with poor access continuing to limit angler numbers.

Downhill skiing (conditions can vary):

*Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: 12-to-24 inch base with good conditions, two Magic Carpets and one lift, three runs, and tubing park open.

*Buena Vista Ski Resort, Bemidji, Minn.: 12 runs open with Terrain Park set up on Bear Track. Tubing Park open with passes available online.

*Huff Hills Ski Area, Mandan: 20- to 35-inch machine groomed base with all runs except Coyote and South Face open along with Blue Lift, Bunny Tow, and Green Lift Terrain Park open. Donut Hole Hiking Area open accessing off Pheasant Run gate near the top of Blue Lift area.

Snowmobile N.D. (conditions can vary):

*Cattail (Barnes, Cass, Steele, & Traill counties): 16- to 20-inch base. Trails open and in good condition. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*East Central Valley (Cass & Richland counties): 12- to 16-inch base. Trails open and in good condition. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Lake Region (Nelson & Ramsey counties): 10- to 14-inch base. Trails open except South Loop on Trail 5. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Missouri Valley (Emmons & Burleigh counties): 16- to 22-inch base. Trails open and in fair condition.

*North Central (Benson, McHenry, Pierce, Ramsey, & Towner counties): 8- to 12-inch base. Trails open.

*Northeast (Cavalier, Pembina, & Walsh counties): 8- to 12-inch base with trails open except for Moonlighter Gorge and NESCA trails. Trails in fair condition.

*Peace Garden (Bottineau & Rolette counties):12- to 16-inch base with trails 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2C, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 7, 7A, 7B, and 7C open but poor ice conditions on areas where slush is on top of thin ice.

*Red River North (Walsh & Pembina counties): 12- to 16-inch base. Trails open and in good condition. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Red River South (Grand Forks & Walsh counties): 8- to 10-inch base. Trails open and in good condition. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Sakakawea (McLean & Ward counties): 8- to 12-inch base. Trails open. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Sargent County (Richland & Sargent counties): 10-inch base. Trails open. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Sheyenne Valley (Barnes, Dickey, LaMoure, Ransom, & Stutsman counties): 16- to 25-inch base. Trails open and in good condition. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Sno-trails (Bottineau, McHenry, Renville, & Ward counties: 8- to 15-inch base. Trails open and in good condition.

*Southern Valley (Richland County): 12- to 20-inch base. Trails open and in good condition. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

Numbers to know:

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

*N.D. Game & Fish Department, Jamestown: (701) 253-6480.

*Report All Poachers: (701) 328-9921.