Dakota Recreation Report

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Notes

- Friday through Sunday: Nishu/Scheels Shootout, indoor 3-D archery tournament, Bismarck.

- Wednesday: Moose, elk and bighorn sheep applications due.

- March 31: Zone 2 mountain lion season closes.

- April 1: New fishing and furbearer licenses due. Snowmobile North Dakota trail system closes.

- April 2: Fly-fishing workshop, Bismarck Four Seasons Golf Dome, Call 701-328-6312 to register and for information.

- April 2 and 3: NDBA state archery tournament, Jamestown.

Fishing

- Ice is never safe. Use caution, especially around bridges and areas with vegetation. Check local conditions before venturing onto ice. Let someone know your location and estimated return time.

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Wednesday: 1,838.5 feet above mean sea level; 17,000 cubic feet per second Garrison Dam average daily releases.

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District Game Wardens: Missouri River fair to good for walleye with open ramps available at Stanton, Washburn, and the tailrace. Some small walleye activity on Lake Audubon.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Southwestern lakes have deteriorating ice and shoreline conditions with soft ice along the shoreline, as well as 5- to 10-feet of open water along the edges of most lakes. Ice has lifted and small rivers are running full capacity. Some fishing starting in tailraces of southwestern reservoirs

Access is getting slushy around the shoreline along areas of Lake Oahe. Crooked and Brush lakes continue producing northern pike and perch with some walleye mixed in.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Limited reports with most anglers going to the Missouri River tailrace, weather permitting. Good walleye success from shore, boats and wing walls.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm & Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Prior to this week’s storm access had been limited due to warmer weather and poor access. Some activity at Tunnel Point on Lake Sakakawea for sauger and walleye. Use caution with deteriorating ice. Missouri River tailrace fair for walleye using jigs and minnows from the wing walls or boats.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Occasional northern pike from the back bays of Lake Sakakawea. Try Douglas or Steinke bays and the east end embankment. Move around. Some northern pike from Lake Audubon, as well. Also try the east end embankment. Missouri River walleye success is hit-and-miss but the fish are nice-sized.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Limited activity on Lake Tschida.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River tailrace remains fair for walleye from the wing walls and boats, weather permitting.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Missouri River remains decent for walleye with OK success from the wing walls using jigs and minnows or Gulp. Success continues from boats, depending on weather conditions. Fish are running about a pound and up in size.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: No activity. Access could deteriorate with recent snow.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Little to no activity on Lake Sakakawea.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Missouri River running high. Some anglers still trying to fish Lake Sakakawea but no recent reports.

Snowmobiling

- Closed trails: Cattail (Steele, Cass and Traill counties), East Central Valley (Fargo, Casselton area), May-Port (Mayville, Portland area), Missouri Valley (Bismarck, Linton area), Red River South (Grand Forks, Fordville, Manvel area), Sargent County (Sargent and Richland counties).

- Lake Region (Devils Lake area): 6-inch base. Trails open and in poor to fair condition. No grooming.

- North Central (Leeds, Rugby area): 4-inch base. Trails open and in poor to fair condition. No grooming.

- Northeast (Cavalier, Langdon, Edinburg area): 4-inch base. Eastern half of the trail system closed. Trails conditions better in the western portion and open but conditions are poor at best.

- Peace Garden (Bottineau, Rolla area): 4-inch base. Trails open but won’t be groomed with poor trail conditions. Several sections re-routed due to thin ice.

- Red River North (Grafton): 4-inch base. Trails open and in poor condition but won’t be groomed.

r Sheyenne Valley (Jamestown, Valley City, Lisbon, Oakes area): 4-inch base. Trails open and in poor to fair condition. No grooming.

- Sno-Trails (McHenry and Ward counties): 6-inch base. Trails opened and in fair to good condition. No grooming.

- Southern Valley (Wahpeton, Mooreton): 6-inch base. Trails open and in fair condition. No grooming.

Skiing

- Big Sky, Big Sky, Mont.: 71- to 106-inch base with powder and machine-groomed conditions and several inches new snow. All runs open with 19 lifts operating.

- Huff Hills, Mandan: 8- to 24-inch base with 12 runs and two lifts open. Call 701-663-6421 for updates on hours and opening.

- Red Lodge, Red Lodge, Mont.: 44- to 48-inch base with packed powder, machine-groomed conditions and three inches of new snow and 61 runs open; all lifts operating.

- Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.: 24- to 36-inch base with variable conditions. All runs open; all lifts operating.

Numbers

- NDGF Bismarck office: 701-328-6300; website http://gf. nd.gov.

- NDGF Dickinson office: 701-227-7431.

- Report All Poachers: 800-472-2121.

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

Tags: dakota recreation report, recreation report, outdoors