Dakota Recreation Report: April 10, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*New fishing licenses are now required.

*Paddlefish tags available online from the N.D. Game & Fish Dept. (gf.nd.gov).

*Permanent ice houses can still be used but 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.

*April 15: Central Dakota Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation banquet, Gladstone Inn, Jamestown.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, April 4: 1,449.52 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.44 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,824.73 MSL; 15,900 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from east-central area lakes or Devils Lake. Little activity on the east end of Lake Sakakawea.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Lots of slush on the lake yet.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Limited activity with poor access yet and difficulty in moving around on the ice with so much slush and snow.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Weather and access permitting, angler finding nice perch success on the east end of Devils Lake. Beware of slushy conditions and moving around on the lake remains difficult.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Little activity. Minnows still hard to get from suppliers.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Little to no activity with ongoing weather issues.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Weather and snow limiting activity throughout area lakes.

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

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: No new reports with no activity on the lake.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Somewhat improving walleye activity around Steinke Bay on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Lake Audubon remains slow.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Look for pike activity around back bays on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try 6 to 12 feet around Steinke, Centennial, Garrison, Douglas bays. No walleye reports.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea remain quiet with little activity.

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

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.