OUTDOOR NOTES
Dec. 22: Canada goose season closes, except for the Missouri River Zone.
Dec. 30: Missouri River Canada Goose Zone closes.
Dec. 30: Snow goose season closes.
Jan. 1: High Plains Duck Unit, coot, merganser and swan seasons close.
Sign up early for winter Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop Jan. 26-27, Cross Ranch State Park, and Feb. 24-26 at Lake Metigoshe State Park. Go to the Game & Fish Department website for more information and registration, (gf.nd.gov).
Fact Box
The Dakota Recreation Report is compiled by Patricia Stockdill, a freelance writer who lives in Garrison.
FISHING
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Continued Missouri River walleye success. Goose Lake remains fair for walleye, although somewhat slower than earlier.
Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River / area lakes: Missouri River tailrace remains good for walleye, weather permitting. Nelson Bay on Lake Audubon producing lots of small walleye. Some activity at Crooked and Brush lakes but no report on success.
Bottineau, Four Seasons, Lake Metigoshe: Lake Metigoshe fair to good for walleye, northern pike and bluegill. Loon Lake producing perch.
Coleharbor, Totten Trail Restaurant, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Lake Audubon fair to good for small walleye with activity around the east and west end embankments.
Devils Lake, Ed's Bait, Devils Lake: Lake Irvine, north end of 6-Mile Bay, Golden Highway and casino area good for walleye. Try minnow heads with any rattle presentation. Continued northern pike success at the north end of 6-Mile Bay, Morrison Lake and Sweetwater Lake.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued walleye and northern pike success on the north end of 6-Mile Bay, Lake Irvine and Mauvais Coulee.
Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Saka-kawea / area lakes: Tobacco Garden on Lake Sakakawea producing walleye using minnows and jigs. Depth varies. Some walleye and northern pike from Mel's Marina. Try smelt for pike and minnows for walleye.
Estevan, Saskatche-wan Environment, Rafferty Dam and area lakes: No reports from area lakes with ice just getting good.
Foxholm, Upper Souris NWR, Lake Darling: Ice conditions remain variable with open water in a few areas and other areas with better ice depths. Some perch reports from the upper end of the lake with occasional walleye.
Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Lake Audubon back bays gaining ice but depth varies greatly. Use caution. Anglers finding fair to good walleye numbers using glowing jigs and minnows. Missouri River remains good for walleye, weather permitting, and the ramp is still accessible.
Garrison, Six-Mile Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Anglers walking onto Lake Audubon with fair walleye success. Try Nelson or Velva bays or the east end embankment. Ice conditions vary.
Harvey, Coal Mine Lake and area lakes: Northern pike remain fair on Coal Mine Lake but poor water clarity limited spearing. Harvey Dam fair for pike. Goose Lake good for perch and fair for pike and walleye.
Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River / area lakes: Lots of northern pike activity on Frohlich Dam or Beaver Bay of Lake Oahe. Occasional walleye mixed in from Lake Oahe.
New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Van Hook Arm iced over but unsafe yet for walking access.
Pick City, Scott's Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River: Missouri River remains good from both boat and shore, weather permitting. Try jigs and minnows from boat or casting crankbaits from shore.
Ruthville, Ruthville Store, Lake Darling & area lakes: Increasing activity on Lake Darling with most anglers going out on Landing 3 or Grano. Lake Audubon fair for small walleye.
LAKE LEVELS
Devils Lake elevation, Dec. 14: 1,453.25 feet above mean sea level.
Stump Lake elevation, Dec. 14: 1,453.42 feet.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, Dec. 14: 1,839.4 feet; 19,000 cubic feet per second average (cfs) Garrison Dam daily releases.
HUNTING
Hunting report and updates as of Dec. 14:
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. game wardens: Good late season Canada goose hunting opportunities remain along Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River.
Northwest N.D.: A few geese remain on the open water of Lake Sakakawea's midsection but the lake continues to gain ice.
West-central N.D.: Good numbers of Canada geese and mallards remain along the Missouri River System. Late season pheasant hunters are finding surprisingly nice numbers of birds in some areas.