Dakota Recreation Report

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Outdoor notes

- Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges, and springs. Check with local bait shops for any ice condition information.

- Registration is now available for the Feb. 9 Outbound Winter Adventures, Fort Clark State Historic Site and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site. Call the State Historical Society of North Dakota for information and registration, 701-328-2792, email Erik Holland, eholland@nd.gov, or register at (history.nd.gov/events/heritageoutbound.html).

- Saturday: Mon-Dak Big Game Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation banquet, Williston.

- Feb. 2: Dakota Pheasants Forever chapter banquet, 5:30 p.m., Bismarck AMVETS.

- Feb. 9: Mule Deer Foundation Northern Badlands Chapter banquet, Bismarck AMVETS.

Tournaments

- Feb. 2: Lake Sakakawea, Van Hook Arm.

Fishing

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District game wardens: Lake Sakakawea producing a few scattered walleye with pike but limited angling activity, as well. Lake Audubon in its typical January lull for walleye.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Most activity on Lake Audubon is around Nelson Bay or northeast corner for walleye. Occasional keeper perch. Beaver Bay on Lake Oahe slow although some activity around the mouth of the bay.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Lots of activity around Skunk Bay on Lake Sakakawea. Try the Petrified Forest or Independence Island in 18 to 40 feet for nice-sized walleye using jigs and minnows. Tobacco Garden slowed a little but still has lots of sauger and walleye with good angler numbers. Indian Creek continues producing small perch and small walleye. Patterson Lake producing 13- to 16-inch walleye and a few 10- to 12-inch perch. Lake Ilo fair for 5- to 7-pound pike with a few perch mixed in.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Skunk Bay and Independence Point remain fair for walleye and sauger. Try Tobacco Garden from the bay to the Beacon in 15 to 35 feet. Patterson Lake producing pike during the day with some walleye towards evening.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: East end of Lake Sakakawea fair for pike along Steinke and Centennial bays. Look for mixed pike and walleye success from Douglas Bay. Lake Audubon fair for walleye along East Totten Trail and along the U.S. Highway 83 embankment.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Cold weather limiting activity.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Cold weather limiting activity but Eckroth Bottoms on the Missouri River is still producing small walleye. Fair for walleye around Langeliers Bay on Lake Oahe.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Missouri River wing walls continue producing small walleye, weather permitting. Recent cold weather shut down boat fishing.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Van Hook Arm producing a few walleye, although a little slower than recent weeks.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair walleye and sauger activity around Tobacco Garden.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Missouri River elevations remain high, which is slowing success and angler numbers. Lake Sakakawea continues producing activity around Tobacco Garden. Also try around Lund’s Landing and Tobacco Garden for pike. White Earth Bay slower. Not many spearing reports. Limited small lake reports with overall scattered success.

Downhill skiing

- Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Mont.: 37- to 55-inch base with all runs open. Terrain Park open with 8 jumps and 40 rails.

- Bridger Bowl Resort, Bozeman, Mont.: 35-inch machine groomed, packed powder base with all Terrain Park features open.

- Huff Hills, Mandan: 12- to 20-inch base with 7 runs and 2 lifts open.

- Red Lodge Ski Area, Red Lodge, Mont.: 42- to 31-inch machine groomed, packed powder base with 24 runs and 4 lfits.

- Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.: 16- to 24-inch base with 10 runs and 4 lifts open.

North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department cross-country ski trails

- Cross Ranch, Hensler: Trails open and in good condition with about 6-inch base.

- Fort Lincoln, Mandan: Trails open but ungroomed.

- Fort Stevenson, Garrison: Trails groomed and in good condition.

Snowmobile North Dakota

- Lake Region, Ramsey and Benson counties: Trails 2 and 3 open. 3- to 6-inch base. Snow conditions permitting, Trail 1 could be groomed soon.

- North-central, Pierce and Towner counties: Rugby Loop open, including Rush Lake, Red Lake, Sand Slough, Jordan Lake, Gun Lake, and Midway Lake. 3- to 6-inch base.

- Northeast, Walsh, Pembina and Cavalier counties: Border, Nekoma Trailblazers, Sandhills, Neche, and Pembina trails open. East side of Tri-County trail open and Moonlight Gorge Trail open to Border Trail. 3- to 6-inch base.

- Peace Garden, Bottineau and Rolette counties: Trails 1, 2, 4, and 5 open and groomed. 3- to 6-inch base.

- Other trails remain closed.

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, rec report, outdoors