Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Darkhouse spearing now closed.

- March 31: Zone 2 mountain lion season closes.

- April 1: New fishing licenses due.

Fishing

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

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: Reminder that it’s illegal to pursue wildlife, including coyotes, with snowmobiles.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle Missouri River/area lakes: Some smallmouth bass activity from on Lake Nelson. Creeks and streams starting to flow into Missouri River, making ice conditions dangerous.

- Coleharbor, Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Audubon: Access roads and parking areas extremely muddy with little to no activity on the refuge portion of Lake Audubon.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/Area Lakes: Indian Creek slowed somewhat but still fair for walleye and perch. Bowman-Haley Dam producing an evening bite for 1.5 to 2-pound walleye. Lake Sakakawea slow with poor access. Missouri River tailrace continues producing walleye.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Missouri River continues producing walleye from boats using jigs. Indian Creek slowed for perch and walleye. Lake Sakakawea quiet with snow and slush on the ice.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Lake Tschida has water and slush with no fishing activity. Road and shorelines are muddy, as well.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: No activity at Van Hook Arm with water and slush on the ice. Most anglers going to the Missouri River tailrace, which remains fair for walleye.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Lots of fishing activity on the Missouri River tailrace. Try jigs and minnows or plastics. Some scattered reports of shore-fishing off the rocks at night using crankbaits. Wings walls are spotty but have moments of good success.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Some northern pike activity around the boat dock on Tobacco Garden of Lake Sakakawea with walleye activity at Phelps Bay.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea: A few more anglers going to Lake Sakakawea but shoreline and snow is slushy. Most activity is at White Earth Bay and across, as well as Lewis & Clark area.

Snowmobiling

- Trail conditions vary daily.

- Cattail (Steele, Cass and Traill counties): Trails closed with warm weather causing standing water.

- East Central Valley (Fargo, Casselton): Trails closed with warm weather causing standing water.

- Lake Region (Devils Lake area): Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed due to warm weather. Beware of thin ice on water bodies.

- May-Port (Mayville-Portland areas): Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed due to warm weather.

r Missouri Valley (Bismarck, Linton): Trails closed with warm weather causing standing water.

- North Central (Rugby, Leeds): All trails in the western portion of the system are open but remaining trails are closed. Beware of thin ice conditions on all water bodies. Open trail sections in fair condition but won’t be groomed.

- Northeast (Cavalier, Langdon, Edinburg): Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed due to warm weather.

- Peace Garden (Bottineau, Rolla): Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed due to warm weather. Beware of thin ice on all water bodies.

- Red River North (Grafton): Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed due to warm weather.

- Red River South (Grand Forks, Fordville, Manvel): Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed due to warm weather.

- Sargent and Richland counties: Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed due to warm weather.

- Sheyenne Valley (Jamestown, Valley City, Lisbon, Oakes): Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed due to warm weather.

- Sno-Trails (Minot): Trails open and in fair condition but won’t be groomed due to warm weather.

Downhill skiing

- Big Sky, Big Sky, Mont.: 42-to 63-inch base with packed powder, machine-groomed condition. All runs open and lifts operating.

- Huff Hills, Mandan: 15-to 29-inch base with 4 inches new snow last week. All runs open with two lifts and tow operating.

- Red Lodge, Red Lodge, Mont.: 45-inch base with packed powder and skier-packed conditions. All runs open and lifts operating.

- Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.: 18-to 30-inch base with all runs open and 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: dakota report, outdoors, fishing