OUTDOOR NOTES
Saturday: Winter Snowshoe Hike, Audubon Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, 10 a.m. Wear warm clothes and boots. Snowshoes are provided. Pre-register by calling 442-5472, ext. 117.
March 10: Spring crow season opens.
March 11: Bobcat, mink and weasel seasons close.
March 15: Permanent fish houses must be removed from lakes but can still be used if removed daily.
March 15: Darkhouse spear fishing closes.
Fact Box
The Dakota Recreation Report is compiled by Patricia Stockdill, a freelance writer who lives in Garrison.
Tournaments: Saturday: Devils Lake, Minnewaukan Flats. March 10: Lake Metigoshe.
FISHING
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake continues producing perch and walleye. Weather slowed activity, although Lake Audubon still producing a few walleye and northern pike. Crooked and Brush lakes remain fair for small perch with Goose Lake also producing perch. Centennial Bay on Lake Sakakawea is producing some nice-sized walleye with a few northern pike mixed in. Missouri River remains fair for walleye, weather permitting. Nelson-Carlson Lakes continues producing small pike. Outlet Fishing Area below Lake Darling Dam good for pike, both spearing and hook-and-line. North-central area lakes are generally fair for perch.
Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River / area lakes: Anglers still finding walleye, pike and perch with occasional crappie from Beaver Bay on Lake Oahe. Missouri River tailrace remains fair for walleye, including as far down as the cable crossing.
Bottineau, Four Seasons, Lake Metigoshe: Lake Metigoshe remains fair for pike and bluegill.
Bottineau, Lake Meti-goshe State Park, Lake Metigoshe: Lake Meti-goshe remains fair to good.
Devils Lake, Ed's Bait, Devils Lake: Pelican Lake fair to good for walleye. Also try the west side of the Minnewaukan Flats, Doc Hagen's, Grahams Island, Mission Bay, Stromme's Addition or Penny Bay, working structured areas in 8 - 20 feet using rattling jigs with minnow heads. Continue working East Devils Lake or Black Tiger Bay for perch with some now showing up in scattered areas of the main lake, including the casino, towers or mouth of Creel Bay. Work 30 to 60 feet using small jigs with minnow heads or wax worms. Work shallow water for pike in Lake Irvine or 6-Mile Bay.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Access remains good. Continued fair to good perch bite in East Devils Lake or around the towers in the Main Lake. Fort Totten area slowed. Lake Irvine remains fair to good for walleye and pike. Look for some perch to start biting there, too. A late afternoon and evening walleye bite remains throughout much of the lake. Pike remain good in the shallows.
Dickinson, Andrus Outdoors, Lake Saka-kawea / area lakes: Skunk Bay on Lake Saka-kawea continues producing walleye in 20 to 25 feet. Indian Creek fair for smaller walleye.
Estevan, Saskatche-wan Environment, Rafferty Dam and area lakes: Snow limited fishing activity on area lakes.
Foxholm, Upper Souris NWR, Lake Darling: Ice conditions are deteriorating on the river below Lake Darling Dam but open water is along the shoreline for shore-fishing opportunities. Not much activity on Lake Darling although anglers can access the lake after recent snow. Ice houses can't be left on refuge shorelines.
Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audu-bon and Sakakawea: Recent snowfall limited activity on Lake Audubon, although weather permitting, a few anglers are still going out. Prior to the snow, Douglas Creek on Lake Sakakawea was producing a mix of pike, perch and walleye. Ice conditions vary greatly, however, throughout the bay.
Garrison, Six-Mile Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Saka-kawea: Recent cold and snow limiting activity and area reports.
Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River / area lakes: Weather and snow limited activity although some anglers still finding fair success at Eckroth Bottoms on Lake Oahe.
New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Activity slow on the Van Hook Arm although access remains good.
Pick City, Scott's Bait & Tackle, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River: Weather permitting, Missouri River tailrace continues producing walleye during the day using minnows and jigs or plastics. Try honey hole, coal veins or cable crossings. Try jigs and minnows from the rocks from shore but success has slowed. Fair to good for pike from both shore and boat. Lake Sakakawea producing some pike around Wolf Creek or Sakakawea State Park, spearing or hook-and-line. Lake Audubon spotty for walleye.
Ruthville, Ruthville Store, Lake Darling and area lakes: Limited reports but some activity still around Grano, Lake Darling and Baker's Bridge.
Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakaka-wea / Missouri River / area lakes: Weather limiting activity and reports from Lake Sakakawea, Missouri River and the small lakes.
LAKE LEVELS
Devils Lake elevation, Feb. 29: 1,453.37 feet above mean sea level.
Stump Lake elevation, Feb. 29: 1,453.39 feet.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, Feb. 29: 1,838.1 feet; 22,000 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.
SKIING
Downhill skiing, Feb. 29:
Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: Some 8- to 16-inch base with 3 inches new snow and powder in protected areas. All runs and lifts open, with three Tube Park runs and several jumps and rails in the Terrain Park.
Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: Some 8 to 10 inches of new snow with a 25-inch base. All runs open. Open Thursday through Sunday.
Huff Hills, Mandan: Some 12- to 38-inch base with packed powder conditions and 3 inches new snow 6 inches over the past week. Fourteen runs, two lifts and Bunny tow open.
Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.: Some 16- to 26-inch base with machine groomed, packed powder conditions. Twenty-nine runs and four lifts open.
N.D. Parks & Recreation Dept. cross-country ski trails, Feb. 29:
Icelandic, Cavalier: Some 10 to 12 inches of new snow but it's dry. Trails are packed and will be groomed, if possible.
Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau: Trails are in poor skiing condition but are good for hiking. Sledding hill in fair condition.