Dakota Recreation Report: March 20, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*Permanent ice houses can’t be left unattended on lakes.

*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.

*March 24: Barnes Co. Ducks Unlimited banquet, Valley City Eagles Club, 5:30 p.m.

*March 25: Kidder Co. Pheasants Forever banquet, Steele, Pifer’s Auction Center, 5 p.m.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, March 14: 1,449.46 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.42 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,824.94 MSL; 15,800 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Little activity throughout area lakes.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: No new reports with difficult access in many areas on the lake.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Beware of slush pockets beneath the snow after earlier storms moved through as well as water and slush coming up when drilling holes. Limited activity with access by tracked vehicles only but those going out continue finding a mix of walleye and perch.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: No new reports.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Tracked vehicles needed on Devils Lake with little activity otherwise. Look for continued perch success on the east end of the lake where anglers can get around and continue working early morning and evening hours for walleye.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Poor access to area lakes with limited activity.

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

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Limited activity.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Tracked vehicle access only with more snow on the lake after earlier storms. Look for continued panfish success, however not many anglers are going out.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Increasing numbers of pike anglers on the east end of Lake Sakakawea, especially Douglas Bay. No Lake Audubon reports.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Walleye bite slow on both Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace and Lake Sakakawea quiet.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: No new reports with heavy snow on area lakes.

Downhill skiing (conditions can vary):

*Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: 36- to 40-inch base with good conditions. 2 Magic Carpets and 1 lift, 7 runs, and terrain park open.

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

*Huff Hills Ski Area, Mandan: 30- to 35-inch powder, packed powder base. All runs open along with 2 lifts, 1 tow, and Green Lift Terrain Park open. Donut Hole Hiking Area also open.

Snowmobile N.D. (conditions can vary):

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

*Missouri Valley (Emmons & Burleigh counties): 10- to 16-inch base. Trails open and in fair condition with new snow. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*North central (Benson, McHenry, Pierce, Ramsey, & Towner counties): 6- to 10-inch base. All trails open and in fair condition.

*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 all trails open and in good condition.

*Red River North (Walsh & Pembina counties): 12- to 16-inch base. Trails open and in fair 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): 5- to 9-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 fair condition. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Sno-trails (Bottineau, McHenry, Renville, & Ward counties): 3- to 12-inch base. Trails open.

*Southern Valley (Richland County): 12- to 20-inch base. Trails open and in fair 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.