Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- March 13: Spring crow season opens.

- March 13 and 14: Roughrider Archery Tournament, Dickinson State University Rodeo Arena.

- March 15: Permanent houses must be removed from all North Dakota lakes. Houses and portables can still be used but must be removed daily.

- March 15: Darkhouse spearing season ends.

- March 17: Moose, elk and bighorn sheep licenses due. Applications available.

- April 1: New fishing licenses required.

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, Wednesday: 1,837.4 msl; 16,000 cubic feet per second Garrison Dam average daily releases.

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: No reports from the southwest. Missouri River remains fair to good for walleye. Reminder that it’s illegal to pursue wildlife, including coyotes, with snowmobiles.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Try Sweetbriar Dam for perch and walleye. Work deeper areas for nice-sized bluegill. Most Missouri River activity is for northern pike around Beaver and Cattail bays with continued walleye success from boat on the tailrace. Wing walls also producing activity.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Indian Creek remains good for perch and walleye. Camels Hump fair for trout. Lake Sakakawea slow with limited reports, though some anglers finding fair sauger success in 40 feet. Missouri River tailrace continues producing walleye using jigs and minnows.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Indian Creek fair for walleye and perch using small jigs or jigging spoons and minnows heads in 10 to 18 feet. Lake Sakakawea is slow. Use snowmobiles or four-wheelers for best mobility in the snow.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Not many reports from Lake Tschida but anglers continue going to the Missouri River tailrace.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Little activity in the Van Hook Arm with most anglers going down to the Missouri River tailrace.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/ Missouri River: Limited ice fishing activity but those going out with snowmobiles on Lake Sakakawea are finding a few walleye along the points. Limited northern pike action. Missouri River tailrace remains good from boats with wing walls slow to fair. A few northern pike moving around in the river, as well. Not much activity from shore off the rocks.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Some activity on Lake Sakakawea but no recent reports on success.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea: Most activity on Lake Sakakawea remains along the south side. A few more anglers out recently with improved weather. Limited reports, however.

Snowmobiling

- Cattail (Steele, Cass and Traill counties): 15-inch snow depth with trails groomed and in good condition.

- East Central Valley (Fargo, Casselton): 12-inch snow depth with trails groomed and in good condition.

- Lake Region (Devils Lake area): 16-inch snow depth with trails groomed and in good condition. Beware of thin ice on water bodies.

- May-Port (Mayville-Portland areas): 12-inch snow depth with trails groomed and in good condition.

- Missouri Valley (Bismarck, Linton): 12-inch snow depth. Trails open and in fair to good condition. Groomer in for repairs but Hague and Moffit trails will be groomed once groomer is fixed.

- North Central (Rugby, Leeds): 14-inch snow depth. All trails in the western portion are open and in good condition. All other trails closed. Beware of thin ice on water bodies.

- Northeast (Cavalier, Langdon, Edinburg): 14-inch snow depth. Trail is open and groomed, although the groomer on the east side is being repaired. Those trails will be groomed once it’s fixed.

- Peace Garden (Bottineau, Rolla): 16-inch snow depth. Trails are open and some sections groomed. Remaining trails are in good conditions. More grooming will take place as needed. Beware of thin ice on water bodies.

- Red River North (Grafton): 12-inch snow depth. Trails groomed and in good condition.

- Red River South (Grand Forks, Fordville, Manvel): 13-inch snow depth with trails groomed and in good condition.

- Sargent and Richland counties: 18-inch snow depth with trails groomed and in good condition.

- Sheyenne Valley (Jamestown, Valley City, Lisbon, Oakes): 16-inch snow depth. Trails open and in good condition. Some sections are groomed.

- Sno-Trails (Minot): 18-inch snow depth. Trails open and in good condition. Some sections are groomed.

- Southern Valley (Wahpeton, Mooreton areas: 13-inch snow depth. Trails open and in good condition. Some sections are groomed.

Downhill skiing

- Big Sky, Big Sky, Mont.: 43-to 65-inch base with powder and packed-powder conditions. All runs and Terrain Park open with all lifts operating.

- Huff Hills, Mandan: 21-to 39-inch base with all runs open and two lifts operating. Open Thursday through Sunday.

- Red Lodge, Red Lodge, Mont.: 43-inch base with skier-packed and packed-powder conditions. All runs and Terrain Park open with all lifts operating.

- Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.:18- to 30-inch base with machine made and machine groomed conditions. Twenty seven runs open with four lifts operating.

Numbers to know

- NDGF main 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, indian creek, red river, dakota report, outdoors