Dakota Recreation Report

Talk about it

Tournaments

- Feb. 6: Lake Sakakawea, Van Hook Arm.

Fishing

- Ice is never completely safe. Use caution, especially in areas with vegetation and around bridges and check conditions locally before venturing out.

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Tuesday: 1,838.8 feet above mean sea level; 18,000 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: East end of Lake Sakakawea fair at best. Prior to the storm there was some activity in the midsection but access could be marginal. Little activity on southwestern lakes other than some trout success from Dickinson Dike.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Weather-limited activity on Missouri River and area lakes. Be prepared for limited access due to drifting snow.

- Coleharbor, Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Audubon: Four-wheel drive needed on auto tour route and lake access points. Refuge side of Lake Audubon remains slow with limited activity.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Prior to the storm, anglers were finding good success at Tobacco Garden on Lake Sakakawea for a mix of walleye, sauger and northern pike with walleye and sauger activity at Van Hook Arm. Occasional walleye and perch from Indian Creek but other area lakes slow with little activity.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Storm- limited activity on Lake Sakakawea and small area lakes.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Little activity due to the recent storm.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: No activity.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Some activity in the Van Hook Arm. Access is OK but snow is building in some areas.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Weather permitting, anglers continue finding some walleye on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Look for continued success on the Missouri River once it warms up so boat anglers can get back out. Continued walleye activity on the wing walls when not iced over.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: No recent activity.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea: Some areas around Whitetail Bay on Lake Sakakawea producing some northern pike for darkhouse spearing. Fish moving up shallower with OK water clarity.

Snowmobiling

- Conditions could vary based on recent storm.

- Cattail (Steele, Cass and Traill counties): 5-inch base with trail open and in fair to good condition.

- East Central Valley (Fargo, Casselton): 6-inch base with trail open and in good condition. Section between Wild Rice, Davenport, and Mapleton is groomed with remaining trails ungroomed.

- Lake Region (Devils Lake area): 4-inch base with trail open but not groomed. The trail 3 miles north and west of U.S. Highway 2 rest area is closed. Beware of thin ice on all water bodies.

- May-Port (Mayville-Portland areas): 6-inch base with trail open and in good condition but ungroomed.

- Missouri Valley (Bismarck, Linton): 5-inch base with trail open and in good condition.

- North Central (Rugby, Leeds): 5-inch base with trails open. Beware of thin ice.

- Northeast (Cavalier, Langdon, Edinburg): 5-inch base with several trails open and in good condition but ungroomed. Closed loops include Sandhill Trail from the intersection of the Neche Trail to Walhalla, Gorge Bypass Trail and Border Trail.

- Peace Garden (Bottineau, Rolla): 5-inch base with the trail open but ungroomed. Beware of thin ice.

- Red River North (Grafton): 5-inch base with trail open and in good condition but ungroomed.

- Red River South (Grand Forks, Fordville, Manvel): 6-inch base with trail open but ungroomed.

- Sargent County (Sargent and Richland counties): 7-inch snow depth with trail open and in good condition.

- Sheyenne Valley (Jamestown, Valley City, Lisbon, Oakes): 7-inch snow depth with trail open and in good condition.

- Sno-Trails (Minot): 13-inch snow depth with trail open, groomed and in good condition.

- Southern Valley (Wahpeton, Mooreton areas): 6-inch base with trails open and in fair condition.

Downhill skiing

- Big Sky, Big Sky, Mont.: More than a foot of new snow over the past week with 42- to 63-inch base with powder conditions. All 150 runs open with all lifts operating.

- Huff Hills, Mandan: 15- to 29-inch base with 4 inches new snow in past week. Fourteen runs open, bunny tow and Blue Lift with all terrain open.

- Red Lodge, Red Lodge, Mont.: 36- to 38-inch base with packed powder, groomed conditions. Fifty six out of 65 runs open with six lifts operating. Eight inches new snow over the past week.

- Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.: 18- to 32-inch base with about 20 inches new snow over the past week. Nineteen runs open with four lifts operating.

Numbers to know

- NDGF Bismarck office: 701-328-6300; Web site, http://gf.nd.gov.

- NDGF Dickinson office: 701-227-7431.

- Report poachers: 800-472-2121.

- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bismarck, Web site, www.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice.

Tags: lake sakakawea, lake tschida, missouri river, dakota report, outdoors, report, skiing, fishingsnowmobile, trails, fishing