OUTDOOR NOTES
Sunday: Pheasant, fall turkey, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, partridge, squirrel and archery deer seasons close.
Sign up early for Becoming an Outdoors-Woman winter workshops Jan. 26-27, Cross Ranch State Park, and Feb. 24-26, Lake Metigoshe State Park. Go to the Game & Fish website, (gf.nd.gov) for information and applications.
Tournaments: Saturday: Buffalo Lodge Lake. Jan. 14: Lake Darling, Landing 3.
FISHING
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Lake Darling somewhat slow. Missouri River remains fair to good from boat.
Fact Box
The Dakota Recreation Report is compiled by Patricia Stockdill, a freelance writer who lives in Garrison.
Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River / area lakes: Lake Audubon fair for small walleye with some keepers mixed in and occasional perch. No reports from the Missouri River or Lake Oahe.
Bottineau, Four Seasons, Lake Metigoshe: Loon Lake continues producing perch. Lake Metigoshe fair for bluegill and walleye with best success in the evening.
Bottineau, Lake Meti-goshe State Park, Lake Metigoshe: Some reports of good perch success on a few area lakes. Park ski trails are open but ungroomed and in poor to fair condition.
Coleharbor, Totten Trail Restaurant, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Lake Audu-bon has deteriorating ice conditions with some anglers moving houses off so they don't freeze down. However, walleye success remains fair.
Devils Lake, Ed's Bait, Devils Lake: Lake Irvine remains good for walleye. Try the moon bars on Pelican Lake, Golden Highway and its three humps outside of Minnewaukan, Fort Totten humps, Mission Bay and Camp Grafton. East Devils Bay and Black Tiger Bay continue producing perch. Pike remain good on Lake Irvine and the lakes north of Devils Lake.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued good walleye and pike success with some perch mixed in. Try Lake Irvine, Creel Bay, Rocky Point, Walford's Bay or East Bay. Good access with no snow, but 4-wheelers recommended more so than vehicles.
Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Saka-kawea / area lakes: Tobacco Garden on Lake Sakakawea continues producing sauger in 30 feet. Lots of open water yet on the lake.
Foxholm, Upper Souris NWR, Lake Darling: Ice conditions deteriorating with warm weather and numerous open water spots. Limited walleye success on the lake but fair northern pike success at the Outlet Fishing Area.
Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audu-bon and Sakakawea: Lake Audubon remains fair for walleye. No activity on Lake Sakakawea but boat activity continues on the Missouri River.
Garrison, Six-Mile Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Saka-kawea: Lake Sakakawea quiet but Missouri River remains active for walleye, especially good numbers of small fish. Try jigs and minnows. Lake Audubon ice conditions deteriorating with warm temperatures so caution is extremely important. Those going are finding a good walleye bite in 17 to 25 feet around Velva Point or north of the refuge.
Harvey, Coal Mine Lake and area lakes: Coal Mine Lake fair for northerns but water clarity isn't good for spearing. Goose Lake good for perch. Fair for walleye and pike. Harvey Dam fair for pike. Hurdsfield Lake producing perch. Fair for walleye.
Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River / area lakes: Continued walleye success on the Missouri River around the Rifle Range and Little Heart from boats. Beaver Bay on Lake Oahe fair for northern pike through the ice. Lake Audubon fair for walleye.
New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Van Hook Arm remains quiet with open water. Sanish Bay had activity earlier but warm weather deteriorated ice conditions and anglers pulled houses off.
Pick City, Scott's Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River: Missouri River remains good during the day from boats using jigs and minnows or Gulp. Try honey hole, coal veins or downriver at the cable crossings. Shore-fishing success continues, as well, with best success in the morning or evening with crankbaits.
Ruthville, Ruthville Store, Lake Darling and area lakes: Continued activity around Landing 3 on Lake Darling and Grano as well as the Outlet Fishing Area. Fair, but spotty, walleye and northern pike activity on Lake Darling.
Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Saka-kawea / Missouri River / area lakes: Small area lakes producing perch, including Skjermo Lake and McGregor Dam. Lots of pike in Skjermo Lake with the perch. Try Springbrook Dam in the evening for perch. Trenton Lake producing a few crappie. No reports from Kota-Ray Dam. Some open water fishing from boat on the Yellowstone River and Missouri River. Lake Sakakawea producing walleye using jigs in deep water. Good numbers of pike as well, but too deep for spearing.
LAKE LEVELS
Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 4: 1,453.29 feet above mean sea level.
Stump Lake elevation, Jan. 4: 1,453.45 feet.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, Jan. 4: 1,839.2 feet; 23,000 cubic feet per second average (cfs) Garrison Dam daily releases.
SKIING
Downhill skiing, Jan. 4:
Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: 6- to 10-inch base with groomed, manmade conditions. One chair, three handle lifts and five runs open.
Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: 15- to 25-inch base with all runs open. Three inches snow in past week. Open Thursday through Sunday.
Huff Hills, Mandan: 10- to 12-inch base. Five runs, one lift and one tow open.
Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.: 16- to 20-inch base with machine-groomed, packed powder conditions. 12 runs and four lifts open.