Dakota Recreation Report

[Lee Borgersen]

                ...... Dakota Recreation Report



Dec. 28, 2012



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.

Friday: Missouri River Canada Goose Zone closes.

Jan. 6: Pheasant, partridge, squirrel, sharp-tailed grouse, archery deer, & ruffed grouse seasons closes.

Jan. 12: Junior Duck Stamp Camp for students in grades K-12, Sullys Hill Nat’l. Game Preserve, Devils Lake. Call (701) 766-4272 for information.

Jan. 13: Fall turkey season closes.

Tournaments:

Jan. 5: Lake Josephine.

Jan. 19: Lake Ashtabula.

Fishing:

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N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Keep trash off lakes and access points. Increasing activity on Barnes and LaMoure county lakes and throughout much of south-central N.D. Perch remain the best option, including some fish up to 10 inches or more. Generally try working out a little farther beyond the first drop-off or bay in 12 feet or deeper. Try Swedish pimples or buckshot rattling spoons with simple small hook and minnow. Perch bite is overshadowing the slower walleye activity but anglers are finding some walleye success in Richland, Sargent, Dickey, and LaMoure county lakes. Try bright jigs and minnows in 8 to 16 feet. Pike spearing and fishing remains mixed with some success on smaller pike using tip-ups with smelt. Some pike are mixed in for those walleye fishing. No reports from south-central area lakes or Devils Lake. Lake Audubon spotty for walleye.

Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: Try Black Tiger Bay, East Devils Lake, Creel Bay and in front of the dome house for perch in 30 to 45 feet using smaller jigs and minnow heads. Try working structure in Stromme’s Addition, East Bay boat ramp, Mission Bay, Pelican Lake, Golden Highway or Doc Hagen’s for walleye.

Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Creel Bay good for perch with overall fair walleye success throughout much of the lake with some pike mixed in.

Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: Good perch success in Creel Bay with a mix of walleye and perch around East Bay and Stromme’s Addition. In general, move around and search with good activity throughout much of the lake, including for pike.

Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir producing walleye with some crappie. Most activity is around Pelican Point and 5-Mile Corner using jigs and minnows. Small area lakes continue producing perch success with lots of ones to sort through before finding keepers.

Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Jamestown Reservoir producing good numbers of walleye with some perch mixed in and an occasional crappie. Small area lakes generally remain good.

Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Not many perch numbers but fair to good catches of small walleye.

Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Continued walleye success on Lake Audubon.

Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Limited activity on the Missouri River with the cold weather, although the few boat anglers that are going out are finding some walleye. Lake Audubon producing some perch with numbers of small walleye.

Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Coal Mine Lake fair for pike. Goose Lake continues producing walleye and perch with fair pike success. Antelope and Hurdsfield lakes fair to good for perch and walleye. Harvey Dam has little activity.

Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: No reports from the Missouri River. Lake Audubon remains fair for small walleye.

Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Fair to good for a mix of crappie and pike.

Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Good for nice crappie numbers. Some perch mixed in along with nice-sized walleye. Some walleye are 3 to 4 pounds and up to 8 pounds.

Red River, River Keepers, Fargo: Cold weather limiting activity.

Spiritwood Lake, Dan’s Sooper Stop, Jamestown: No reports.

Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Limited reports.

Hunting:

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. game wardens: Late season upland bird hunters are finding birds but they’re wild.