Dakota Recreation Report

Outdoor notes

- Sunday: White-fronted goose, duck, merganser, snipe, and coot seasons close.

- Dec. 11: High Plains Duck Unit opens.

- Dec. 12: Muzzleloader deer season closes.

- Darkhouse northern pike and nongame spearfishing now open. See fishing guide for open lakes.

Fishing

- Ice is never completely safe. Use caution, especially around bridges and areas with vegetation. Check local conditions before venturing onto ice.

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday: 1,842.6 feet above mean sea level; 18,900 cubic feet per second Garrison Dam average daily releases.

r North Dakota Game and Fish Department. District Game Wardens: Anglers finding decent trout on Camels Hump Dam. A few anglers walking onto the ice on Lake Audubon with fair success at best around Nelson Bay and Velva Point. No fishing activity on the midsection of Lake Sakakawea with the Van Hook Arm just starting to ice over.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Look for more walking activity on area lakes as the ice deepens. Colder weather limiting Missouri River tailrace activity.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Indian Creek producing small walleye with anglers walking onto the ice. Lake is gaining ice but use caution. Some walleye and sauger activity around Tobacco Garden on Lake Sakakawea. Walking access only yet.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Some anglers walking onto Sweetbriar Dam and finding some walleye and small northern pike success. Larson Lake fair for small northerns. Dickinson Dike slow. Area lakes gaining ice but caution is still necessary.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: North Lake and back bays of Lake Audubon iced over but ice is cloudy and extreme caution is needed, even when walking. Missouri River tailrace producing walleye trolling with crankbaits in late afternoon and evening. Water is dirty.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Lake is icing over but no activity recommended yet.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Fish Creek producing some trout. Beaver Bay on Lake Oahe has some northern pike and walleye activity.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: No activity on Lake Sakakawea. Missouri River also has limited activity with weather slowing shore-fishing.

- New Town, Van Hook Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: River portion of Lake Sakakawea freezing over but then broke up so ice is rough. Van Hook Arm icing over but not completely froze yet.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: A few anglers starting to fish Tobacco Garden on Lake Sakakawea with scattered success.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Some northern pike activity on the Missouri River with occasional sauger. Back bays of Lake Sakakawea producing some northern pike success. Lots of open water from White Earth Bay to the east. Cold weather limiting activity.

Hunting

- N.D. Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: Remember to avoid stressing and harassing wildlife with snowmobile activity now underway. Some goose hunting activity yet with birds still on the open water of Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River. Good pheasant numbers remain in the southwest. Some pheasant activity yet around the midsection of Lake Sakakawea.

- Northwest N.D.: Most waterfowl moved out. Still some pheasant and grouse activity, though.

- Southwest N.D.: Lots of coyotes for predator hunting opportunities. Good pheasant numbers remain with lots of activity yet.

- West-central N.D.: Fair muzzleloader deer success. Canada geese still hanging on the open water of Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River but snow geese moved out. Good pheasant numbers remain with lots of activity but birds are getting spooky.

Downhill ski report, Tuesday

- Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Mont.: 3 inches new snow with 32- to 52-inch powder, packed powder base. 56 trails open with 8 lifts operating.

- Huff Hills, Mandan: 5 runs open with 8 to 18 inches base and 5 inches new snow. Blue Lift and Bunny Town open with 5 runs available.

- Red Lodge, Red Lodge, Mont.: 25- to 27-inch base of packed powder and machine-groomed snow. 31 runs open with 4 lifts operating.

- Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.: Open Friday and Saturday with full-time opening tentatively scheduled to begin Dec. 11.

Numbers to know

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department main Bismarck office: 701-328-6300, website gf.nd.gov.

- N.D. Game and Fish Department Dickinson office: 701-227-7431.

- Report poachers: 800-472-2121.

- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bismarck, website: www.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice.

Tags: dakota report, outdoors