Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor Notes:

- Saturday: Northern Badlands Chapter, Mule Deer Foundation banquet, doors open at 4:30 p.m., AMVETS, Bismarck.

Fishing:

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

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, Feb. 21: 1,838.3 feet above mean sea level; 24,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) Garrison Dam average daily releases. Temperature: 33F.

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District game wardens: No reports from southwestern area lakes. Centennial Bay on Lake Sakakawea is producing some nice-sized walleye with a few northern pike mixed in. Lake Audubon fair to good for smallmouth bass with small walleye biting in some areas. Missouri River spotty for walleye with lots of boat activity.

n Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Eckroth Bottoms and 4-Mile Bay on Lake Oahe fair for walleye with best success around sunset and later. Occasional crappie. Try smelt for pike. Also try Beaver Bay. Continued activity at Brush Lake for walleye and perch with some activity at Crooked Lake.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Most activity remains around Skunk Bay on Lake Sakakawea in 20 to 25 feet for a mix of nice-sized walleye and sauger. A few pike mixed in working 12 to 20 feet. Work the same depths at Mossett Bay. Camels Hump producing a few small trout. Look for small walleye from Indian Creek Dam.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lake Sakakawea fair to good for walleye and sauger around Skunk Bay, Tobacco Garden and the New Town area. Skunk Bay also producing some nice-sized pike. Missouri River remains fair to good for walleye. Try running up river and drifting back with jigs and minnows. Fair to good from shore, as well. Indian Creek Dam continues producing small walleye and perch. No reports from Lake Tschida.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Missouri River remains fair for walleye with better success from boat in the tailrace. Lake Audubon continues to have fair activity. A few anglers working the east end of Lake Sakakawea around Centennial Bay and the pumping plant, finding a few nice-sized walleye with some perch and pike mixed in.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Lots of activity, including the Missouri River tailrace and some pike from Lake Sakakawea.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Continued fair to good for walleye around Eckroth Bottoms of Lake Sakakawea. Missouri River tailrace remains good for walleye. Skunk Bay producing activity on Lake Sakakawea.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Continued fair to good for walleye on the Missouri River using plastics or jigs and minnows with most activity down river around the coal veins and cable crossing. Try anchoring. Live bait working the best from shore for walleye with a pike mixed in. Lake Audubon spotty at best for walleye.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Tobacco Garden and Skunk Bay slowed on Lake Sakakawea, although anglers are still finding a few sauger. Try the back bays for pike.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: More anglers on the ice with lots of activity in the back waters for pike using smelt.

Downhill skiing:

- Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Montana: 50- to 75-inch base with powder, machine groomed conditions. All runs and lifts open.

- Bridger Bowl, Bozeman, Montana: 55-inch base with powder and machine-groomed conditions. All runs and lifts open.

- Huff Hills, Mandan: 10- to 36-inch base with loose granular, packed powder conditions. 5 runs and 2 lifts open.

n Red Lodge Resort, Red Lodge, Montana: 45- to 52-inch base with packed powder, machine groomed conditions. All runs and 6 lifts open.

- Terry Peak, Lead, South Dakota: 16- to 22-inch base with machine groomed, packed powder conditions. 27 runs and 5 lifts open.

Snow goose migration:

- Nebraska: Good numbers of birds throughout the midsection of Nebraska, as well as along the eastern tier of Iowa and Missouri and western Illinois.

- South Dakota: No reports of birds yet.

Numbers to know:

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

- NDGF Department Dickinson office: 701-227-7431.

- Report All Poachers: 800-472-2121.

Patricia Stockdill

Tags: dakota recreation report, outdoors