OUTDOOR NOTES
Darkhouse spearfishing season now open. Refer to the N.D. Game & Fish Department website at (gf.nd.gov) for regulations and listing of open lakes.
Sunday: White-fronted geese, ducks, mergansers, snipe and coot seasons close.
Dec. 10: High Plains Duck Unit, merganser and coot seasons re-open.
Dec. 11: Muzzleloader deer season closes.
Dec. 11: Late E1 elk and M5 and M6 moose seasons close.
Fact Box
The Dakota Recreation Report is compiled by Patricia Stockdill, a freelance writer who lives in Garrison.
Dec. 16: Southern Saskatchewan waterfowl season closes.
FISHING
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Anglers walking onto Crooked Lake and parts of Lake Audubon as well as the McClusky Canal. No reports from Lake Sakakawea with warmer weather opening some of the back bays from ice. Missouri River tailrace remains good for walleye. Anglers walking onto parts of Lake Audubon.
Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River / area lakes: Continued walleye success in the evening from shore on the Missouri River at the Heskett Plant. Try casting No. 11 or No. 13 crankbaits. Docks are out of water around Bismarck-Mandan but ramps still usable with some activity around the Kimball Bottoms, Hazelton and MacLean Bottoms using Gulp or jigs. Also try crankbaits in 10 to 12 feet. Tailrace also remains good.
Bottineau, Four Seasons, Lake Metigoshe: Anglers walking onto Lake Meti- goshe and finding some walleye success in various areas. Ice depth varies so walking access only is recommended.
Bottineau, Lake Meti-goshe State Park, Lake Metigoshe: A few anglers venturing onto Lake Metigoshe with some limited success. Park trails open for hiking.
Coleharbor, Totten Trail Restaurant, Lakes Audubon & Sakakawea: some walk-on activity at Nelson Bay on Lake Audubon.
Devils Lake, Ed's Bait, Devils Lake: Limited activity with back bays icing over along the edges. Some northern pike success on smaller lakes north of Devils Lake with walk-on access only.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Back bays are icing over with limited activity. Some northern pike success on smaller area lakes.
Estevan, Saskatche-wan Environment, Rafferty Dam & area lakes: Warm weather opened reservoirs up again on the main bodies but bays have ice yet. No fishing activity yet.
Foxholm, Upper Souris NWR, Lake Darling: Weather permitting, anglers are fishing below Lake Darling Dam at the Outlet Fishing Area. Minimal activity on the lake itself when earlier warm weather didn't help improve ice although some anglers are out, weather permitting.
Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: With continued nice weather anglers continue going to the Missouri River and finding good walleye, trout and sauger success in the tailrace and down river. Try jigs and minnows or crankbaits. Lake Audubon is starting to ice over in the bays but no fishing advised yet. No activity on Lake Sakakawea.
Garrison, Six-Mile Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Use extreme caution but some anglers are walking onto the east back bays of Lake Audubon and finding nice walleye using jigs and minnows.
Harvey, Coal Mine Lake and area lakes: No reports with area lakes just icing up.
Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River / area lakes: Fewer anglers on the Missouri River but those going are still finding fair walleye success. Try Hazelton, Little Heart and the tailrace.
New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Boat access still available on the Van Hook Arm but the dock is out of the water. Try Shell Village in 20 to 40 feet using jigs and minnows for walleye with northern pike mixed in.
Pick City, Scott's Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River: Missouri River remains good from shore with best success still in the evening using crankbaits. Weather permitting, boat anglers continue catching walleye using jigs and minnows or crankbaits. Lots of small fish with nice-sized ones mixed in. Not many salmon and trout.
Ruthville, Ruthville Store, Lake Darling and area lakes: Some activity on Lake Darling but no reports. Lake Audubon producing a few walleye but walking access only.
Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River / area lakes: Warm weather opened some back bays of Lake Sakakawea while others have a partial ice-over. Missouri River still has boat activity with fair to good walleye success. Look for a better northern pike spearing season.
LAKE LEVELS
Devils Lake elevation, Nov. 30: 1,453.28 feet above mean sea level.
Stump Lake elevation, Nov. 30: 1,453.46 feet.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, Nov. 30: 1,839.9 feet; 28,500 cubic feet per second average (cfs) Garrison Dam daily releases.
HUNTING
As of Nov. 30:
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. game wardens: Hunters working some areas with pockets of pheasants and finding OK numbers of birds. More goose hunting activity with birds moving onto the open water of the Missouri River System with good numbers along Lake Sakakawea, including up to the Van Hook Arm. Some lingering mallards in the area, as well. A fair number of muzzleloader hunters.
Lonetree WMA, Harvey: A few hunters are still finding fair pheasant success and muzzleloader hunters are finding fair deer numbers, although fewer than in recent years. Waterfowl moved out.
North-central N.D.: Some predator calling activity. Waterfowl moved out.
Northeast N.D.: Good numbers ducks remain in the region with the open water of Devils Lake.
Northwest N.D.: Fair pheasant success in some areas. Lack of snow is limiting mountain lion hound opportunities. Not many ducks and snow geese left around the midsection of Lake Sakakawea but good numbers of Canada geese.
Southern Saskatche-wan, Saskatchewan Environment: Little activity although some ducks and geese remain around Boundary Dam.
Upper Souris NWR, Foxholm: Some muzzleloader deer hunting. Remember to remove tree stands daily.
West-central N.D.: Lots of Canada geese along Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River with encouraging pheasant numbers starting to show up. Hunters still getting birds south of Lake Sakakawea but continue working harder for them. Increasing Canada goose numbers south of Bismarck-Mandan and throughout the Missouri River.