Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor Notes:

- Fri. and Sat.: Future of Hunting conference, Bismarck.

- Saturday: Cedar Creek Pheasants Forever (PF) banquet, Hettinger.

- Saturday: Zone 2 mountain lion season closes.

- Sunday: New fishing and furbearer licenses due.

- April 13: Dunn County PF banquet, Buckskin, Killdeer.

- April 14: Spring turkey season opens.

Fishing:

- Lake Sakakawea elevation, March 27: 1,838.1 feet above mean sea level; 17,500 cubic feet per second (CFS) Garrison Dam average daily releases.

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District game wardens: Lake Tschida open but limited reports from southwestern lakes. Lake Sakakawea is open with some northern pike success along south shore access areas, including Beaver, Renner, Beulah and Hazen bays. Missouri River tailrace remains fair but walleye success slowed around Stanton and Washburn. Wing walls open but remember new regulations require any released fish to be lowered in baskets from the wing walls and other bridges and piers. Not much activity on small area lakes.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Continued good for walleye on the Missouri River from boat and shore using jigs and minnows or crankbaits from the tailrace down to Fort Rice. Some pike success on Moffit Creek. Try any culvert areas on local lakes or creeks with flowing water.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Good pike activity from shore around Mel’s Marina on Lake Sakakawea using smelt. Continued Missouri River walleye success around Bismarck jigging with minnows in 20 to 25 feet. Tailrace and coal veins remain good using jigs and minnows. Camels Hump Dam producing a few trout.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Missouri River remains good for walleye around Bismarck with better reports to the south. Try pitching jigs and minnows behind sandbars in 2 to 10 feet. Also try crankbaits. Tailrace and Stanton also producing walleye. Some boat activity on Lake Sakakawea with anglers accessing at Mel’s Marina and going to Tunnel Point. No reports on success. Good for pike from shore at Mel’s Marina.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Lake Audubon open with some boat fishing. No reports, however. Lake Sakakawea fair for northern pike around Wolf Creek. Missouri River fair for walleye and pike from the tailrace down to Washburn.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: A few anglers shore-fishing along Lake Tschida and below the dam but success is limited so far.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Missouri River remains good for walleye. Try Fort Rice and down to Lake Oahe. Try jigs, Lindy rigs or crankbaits. Lots of pike, as well.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Missouri River remains fair to good for walleye using jigs and minnows or plastics. Water is clear in the tailrace so success slows when there are lots of boats. Try 3-way swivels in the tailrace and chutes but most success is down river from the ramp. Fair at best from shore with better success on pike. Wing walls open and producing small walleye and a few catfish, pike and ling. Try jigs and minnows.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Lake is open. Look for pike activity soon in the Van Hook Arm.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Weather permitting, Missouri River producing walleye. Look for activity in the Little Muddy River and other backwaters for pike. Try casting spoons, plugs or smelt. No reports on a smelt run.

Light goose migration:

- North Dakota: A few birds still filtering through but a majority of the migration is already north into northern North Dakota and Canada. Good numbers of snow geese around Devils Lake, Leeds, Rugby and J. Clark Salyer Nat’l. Wildlife Refuge.

North Dakota rivers, river stage and streamflow:

- Bear Den Creek, Mandaree: River stage, 3.74 feet; streamflow, 2.5 CFS.

- Cannonball River, Regent: River stage, 1.81 feet; streamflow, 13 CFS.

- Green River, New Hradec: River stage, 6.48 feet; streamflow, 4.5 CFS.

- Heart River, Richardton: River stage, 5.34 feet; streamflow, 41 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Marmath: Streamflow, 60 CFS.

- Little Missouri River, Medora: River stage, 2.43 feet.

- Little Missouri River, Long X Bridge: Streamflow, 303 CFS.

- Missouri River, Williston: River stage, 15.09 feet.

- Yellowstone River, Sidney, Montana: River stage, 5.82 feet; streamflow, 8.280 CFS.

Downhill skiing:

- Big Sky, Big Sky, Montana: 52- to 88-inch base with powder, machine groomed conditions. All runs and lifts open.

- Bridger Bowl, Bozeman, Montana: 64-inch base with powder, machine groomed conditions. All runs and lifts open.

- Red Lodge, Red Lodge, Montana: 50- to 60-inch base with variable spring conditions. 64 runs and 6 lifts open.

- Terry Peak, Lead, South Dakota: 10- to 20-inch base with variable spring conditions. 10 runs and 4 lifts.

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.

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

Patricia Stockdill

Tags: dakota recreation report, outdoors