Dakota Recreation Report: April 17, 2023

Outdoor notes:

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

*New fishing licenses are now required.

*April 17: N.D. Game & Fish Dept. public advisory meeting, Lake Region State College Heritage Hall, 7 p.m.

*April 24: N.D. Game & Fish Dept. public advisory meeting, Harvey City Hall, 7 p.m.

*April 24: N.D. Game & Fish Dept. public advisory meeting, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, 7 p.m.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, April 11: 1,449.58 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.48 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,824.96 MSL; 16,700 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Beware of rapidly deteriorating ice conditions with water and slush creating honeycombing action in the ice. No reports from Devils Lake, east-central area lakes or the Missouri River System.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Beware of slushy and muddy conditions accessing Devils Lake and moving around on the slush and water on top of the ice. Some activity on Pelican Lake for walleye. Look for some late season perch activity on the main lake but use extreme caution as ice deteriorates.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Water showing up along shorelines in areas along Devils Lake with lots of slush and water on top of the ice.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Lots of slush on the ice as well as accessing the ice. Limited activity with anglers generally waiting for open water.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Little activity on area lakes with slush and water on top of the ice.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Not much activity on area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Limited activity on area lakes with slush, mud, and potential winter kill. Minnow availability remains a problem.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: No new reports.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Not much activity with slush on the lake. Look for increasing reservoir levels and deteriorating shoreline conditions with increasing runoff.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Not much activity on Lake Sakakawea with slushy shoreline conditions and water on top of the ice.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: No new reports.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Minnow availability difficult with little activity. Watch slushy conditions along shorelines and the ice on Lake Sakakawea but look for potential pike activity as open water shorelines emerge.

*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.