The Official Newspaper for Foster County

Dakota Recreation Report: January 9, 2023

Outdoor notes:

*Reminder that it’s illegal to chase, harass, or pursue any wildlife species with motorized vehicle.

*Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges, and springs. Check conditions as you go along on the ice and don’t move around at night.

Tournaments:

*Jan. 14: Lake Josephine.

*Jan. 28: Devils Lake, 6-Mile Bay.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 3: 1,449.37 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.32 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,830.18 MSL; 20,900 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from east-central area lakes, Devils Lake, or the Missouri River System.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Access and moving around on Devils Lake and area lakes, including Lake Irvine limited to tracked vehicles. Try the main lake for perch or Lake Irvine for walleye.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Decent walleye success in morning hours in 15 to 25 feet with overall nice perch activity in deeper water. Access limited to tracked vehicles. Access trails plowed off Woodland Resort’s ramp.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Lots of snow continues limiting access and ability to move around area lakes with few anglers out.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: No new reports.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir quiet with poor access but anglers using minnows and wax worms for walleye and perch on smaller area lakes they can access. Tracked vehicles recommended in many areas.

*Lake Ashtabula, The Hungry Pelican at the Crossing, Luverne: Anglers accessing the lake at Hungry Pelican ramp with tracked vehicles only. Fair perch activity.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Fair to good for a mix of perch and walleye with occasional pike. Anglers accessing the lake with tracked vehicles but continue finding slush in many areas.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Access available at East Totten boat ramp on Lake Audubon but tracked vehicles needed to move around. Beware of major pressure ridges, as well. Limited reports so far.

*Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea, Hwy. 83 Lawn & Leisure, Garrison: Fair walleye success on Lake Audubon with best activity in low light around sunrise or sunset. Tough moving around on the lake itself but access is available off the East Totten boat ramp. Anglers accessing Steinke and Centennial bays on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try 28 to 35 feet for walleye in early morning or around sundown.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains quiet. Moving around on Lake Audubon difficult without tracked vehicles although access is available off the East Totten boat ramp.

Downhill skiing:

*Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: 12– to 24-inch base with good conditions. 2 Magic Carpets and 1 lift, 3 runs, and tubing park open.

*Buena Vista Ski Resort, Bemidji, Minn.: 12 runs open with Terrain Park set up on Bear Track.

*Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: Closed for season.

*Huff Hills Ski Area, Mandan: 20- to 35-inch packed powder base with all runs, 1 tow, 2 lifts, and Green Lift Terrain Park open.

Snowmobile N.D.:

*Cattail (Barnes, Cass, Steele, & Traill counties): 16- to 20-inch base. Trails open. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*East-central Valley (Cass & Richland counties): 12- to 16-inch base. Trails open. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Lake Region (Nelson & Ramsey counties): 10- to 14-inch base. Trails open but ungroomed yet.

*Missouri Valley (Emmons & Burleigh counties): 16- to 22-inch base. Trails open. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings. Beware of 2 areas where groomers got stuck in December.

*North-central (Benson, McHenry, Pierce, Ramsey, & Towner counties): 8- to 12-inch base. Trails open.

*Northeast (Cavalier, Pembina, & Walsh counties): Trails closed.

*Peace Garden (Bottineau & Rolette counties): Trails closed.

*Red River North (Walsh & Pembina counties): 12- to 16-inch base. Trails open. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Red River South (Grand Forks & Walsh counties): 8- to 10-inch base. Trails open. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Sakakawea (McLean & Ward counties): 8- to 12-inch base. Trails open. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Sargent County (Richland & Sargent counties): 10-inch base. Trails open but ungroomed yet. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Sheyenne Valley (Barnes, Dickey, LaMoure, Ransom, & Stutsman counties): 16- to 25-inch base. Trails open but ungroomed yet. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.

*Sno-trails (Bottineau, McHenry, Renville, & Ward counties: 8- to 15-inch base. Trails open.

*Southern Valley (Richland County): 12- to 20-inch base. Trails open. Watch for snow piles along approaches and road crossings.