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.

- Do not chase or harass wildlife, including coyotes.

- Saturday: Spring crow season opens.

- March 15: Darkhouse spearfishing season closes.

- March 15: Fish houses must be moved off state lakes but can be used if removed daily.

- March 15: Bobcat and weasel hunting and trapping seasons close.

- March 16: Ducks Unlimited banquet, Hampton Inn, Williston, 6 p.m.

- March 16: Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation banquet, Bismarck.

- March 20: DU banquet, 7 Seas, Mandan, 4:30 p.m.

Fishing

- North Dakota Game and Fish Department District game wardens: Sheep Creek fair for bluegill, crappie, and rainbow trout. All sizes of pike are coming from the Little Missouri Arm of Lake Sakakawea. Good to fair for perch, crappie, and walleye on Lake Tschida. Shoreline ice has eroded in some areas so use caution accessing lakes and reservoirs. Open water has developed on the west end of Bowman-Haley Dam.

- Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River/area lakes: Access could be difficult and limited on many lakes north and east of Bismarck. Some activity on Lake Audubon. Harmon Lake continues producing pike using smelt or herring.

- Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Overall slower reports from Lake Sakakawea and small area lakes.

- Dickinson, Runnings Farm and Fleet, Lake Sakakawea/area lakes: Limited reports, although Skunk Bay on Lake Sakakawea is still producing some walleye. A few anglers still on portions of the Missouri River but no reports.

- Garrison, Cenex Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea: Many anglers are moving fish houses off area lakes. East end of Lake Sakakawea was producing walleye with a few pike mixed in prior to the earlier storm. No reports from Lake Audubon or Missouri River.

- Glen Ullin, Fitterer’s Inc., Lake Tschida: Lake Tschida producing pike success from both hook-and-line and spearing.

- Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River/area lakes: Limited reports with less activity in recent days.

- Pick City, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Anglers are getting some walleye from the Missouri River wing walls using jigs and minnows. Success and time of day for when the fish move in are inconsistent, however. Weather permitting, anglers can still find pike down river. Good pike numbers coming from areas along the east end of Lake Sakakawea, including Wolf Creek. Many anglers are moving their fish houses off.

- New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Fair walleye activity in the Van Hook Arm with best success in the morning and evening.

- Watford City, One-Stop, Lake Sakakawea: Limited activity on Lake Sakakawea with less access after the recent storm.

- Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River: Access is difficult on area lakes and Lake Sakakawea but those going to Lewis and Clark State Park and Lund’s Landing are finding good pike success. Springbrook, Blacktail, and Kota-Ray dams continue producing perch. Best walleye success is on the Missouri River. However, overall access is limited after this week’s storm.

Downhill skiing

- Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Mont.: 58- to 87-inch machine groomed, powder base with all Terrain Park, runs, and lifts open with 8 jumps and 40 rails.

- Bridger Bowl Resort, Bozeman, Mont.: 65-inch machine groomed, packed powder base with all runs, lifts, and features open.

- Huffs Hills Ski Area, Mandan: 18- to 20-inch base with new snow early in the week. 13 runs and 2 lifts open.

- Red Lodge Ski Area, Red Lodge, Mont.: 36- to 38-inch machine groomed, packed powder base with 62 runs and 6 lifts.

- Ski Mystic at Deer Mtn., Lead, S.D.: 24- to 48-inch base with 35 runs and all lifts open.

- Terry Peak Ski Area, Lead, S.D.: 18- to 30-inch base with 28 runs open.

North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department cross-country ski trails

- Cross Ranch, Hensler: Trails open and in fair to good condition.

- Fort Stevenson, Garrison: Trails remain in good condition.

- Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau: At least 6 inches new snow earlier in the week. Trails are in good condition and, weather permitting, they will be groomed. Warming house open daily.

Snowmobile North Dakota

- Conditions could change with snow early in the week.

- East Central Valley (Cass and Richland counties): 4- to 28-inch base with all trails open and groomed.

- Lake Region (Nelson and Ramsey counties): 4- to 6-inch base with all trails open and groomed.

- North-central (Benson, McHenry, Pierce, Ramsey, and Towner counties): 4- to 6-inch base with all trails except NC Trail 6 open.

- Northeast (Cavalier, Pembina, and Walsh counties): 3- to 6-inch base with all trails open except Cavalier Trail closed from St. Thomas to warming house southeast of Cavalier.

- Peace Garden (Bottineau and Rolette counties): 4- to 6-inch base with all trails except Trail 6 open and groomed.

- Red River North (Pembina and Walsh counties): 4- to 6-inch base with all trails open and groomed.

- Red River South (Grand Forks and Walsh counties): 6- to 8-inch base with all trails open and groomed.

- Sargent (Richland and Sargent counties): 4- to 6-inch base with all trails open and groomed.

- Sheyenne Valley (Barnes, Dickey, LaMoure, Ransom, and Stutsman counties): 4- inch base but open trails are in poor condition. Trails M-1 and McKinnes trails remain closed.

- Sno-Trails (Bottineau, McHenry, Renville, and Ward counties): 6- to 10-inch base with all trails open.

- Southern Valley (Richland): 5- to 7-inch base with all trails open and groomed.

- Mayville-Portland, Cattail, and Missouri Valley trails 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: rec report, dakota recreation report, outdoors