Dakota Recreation Report: Feb. 13, 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. 18: Jamestown Reservoir, Pelican Point; Devils Lake; Lake Audubon.

*Feb. 24: Devils Lake.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Feb. 7: 1,449.42 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.3 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,827.33 MSL; 24,800 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: East Devils Lake producing nice-sized perch but tracked vehicles needed to move around. Lake Irvine remains fair to good for walleye.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Perch and walleye slowing somewhat with overall fair but scattered success.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Creel Bay producing nice perch success.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair to good for walleye although moving around on the lake remains challenging in places. Try deep holes for some nice perch success. Work 15 to 25 feet for walleye.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Activity remains light on area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown:

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No new reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Continued fair to good success for a mix of species.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City:

*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: Fair walleye bite from Centennial and Steinke bays on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try 15 to 20 feet. Some pike spearing activity, as well. Lake Audubon remains hit-and-miss for walleye with best success in deeper water. Just remember to keep those fish because they won’t survive coming up from deep water.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace quiet but look for more activity with warmer weather and better access off the tailrace boat ramp. Lake Sakakawea dropping in elevation so beware of slumping shoreline edges in places. Limited Lake Audubon reports

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey:

Downhill skiing (conditions can vary):

*Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: 12– to 24-inch base with good conditions. 2 Magic Carpets and 1 lift, 3 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, tows, and lifts open. Donut Hole Hiking Area open. Access 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. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Missouri Valley (Emmons & Burleigh counties): 16- to 22-inch base. Trails open and in good condition. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*North Central (Benson, McHenry, Pierce, Ramsey, & Towner counties): 8- to 12-inch base. Rush Lake trail closed but all other trails open.

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

*Peace Garden (Bottineau & Rolette counties):12- to 16-inch base with trails 2A and 2B closed. Other trails 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, 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: (701) 328-9921.