OUTDOOR NOTES
Saturday: Spring crow season opens.
Sunday: Bobcat, mink and weasel seasons close.
March 15: Darkhouse spearfishing season closes.
March 15: Permanent icehouses must be off state lakes but can be used if removed daily.
March 28: Moose, elk and bighorn sheep licenses due.
Fact Box
The Dakota Recreation Report is compiled by Patricia Stockdill, a freelance writer who lives in Garrison.
April 1: New fishing licenses due.
Tournaments: Saturday: Lake Metigoshe.
FISHING
N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Lake Audubon slow. Goose Lake continues producing perch. Devils Lake slowed. Limited activity around north-central area lakes with snow limiting access.
Bismarck, Dakota Tackle, Missouri River / area lakes: Beaver Bay on Lake Oahe fair for walleye.
Bottineau, Four Seasons, Lake Metigoshe: Continued fair for a mix of walleye, pike and bluegill.
Devils Lake, Ed's Bait, Devils Lake: Pelican Lake, west side of the Minnewaukan Flats and Doc Hagen's continue producing walleye in 8 to 20 feet working structure. Perch success remains the most consistent at Black Tiger and East Tiger bays. Try Lake Irvine or north of 6-Mile Bay for pike.
Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Continued fair success, although weather fronts slowed activity earlier. Walleye remain fair to good but perch are getting finicky. Fish are there but they're picky on the bite. Pike remain good. Try the dome house, towers, north end of Creel, casino, Bud Bay and East Devils Lake for perch.
Dickinson, Andrus Out-doors, Lake Sakakawea / area lakes: Skunk Bay on Lake Sakakawea continues producing walleye and sauger in 20 to 25 feet. A few pike mixed in. New Town area around the bridge producing walleye in 18 to 20 feet. Not much activity on small area lakes.
Foxholm, Upper Souris NWR, Lake Darling: Outlet Fishing Area below the dam has open water so ice-fishing is likely over for the season. Lake access areas are getting muddy but anglers can still get on the lake. Use caution. Limited reports on success. Two grouse blinds are now available. Call the refuge, 468-5467, for free reservations.
Garrison, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Lake Saka- kawea producing northern pike in several locations but ice conditions aren't the best. Douglas Bay remains fair for perch and pike. Try Centennial Bay for perch. Lake Audubon slowed somewhat but anglers are still finding a few walleye. Missouri River fair for walleye.
Harvey, Coal Mine Lake and area lakes: Antelope Lake fair to good for perch and walleye. Clear Lake (Pierce Co.) fair to good for perch and walleye. Coal Mine Lake fair for pike. Slow for perch. Goose Lake fair to good for perch and walleye. Harvey Dam fair for pike, slow for other species.
Garrison, Six-Mile Bait & Tackle, Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea: Anglers still going to the Missouri River but less activity on Lake Audubon.
Mandan, Southside MVP, Missouri River / area lakes: Continued fair walleye bite in the morning and evening around Eckroth Bottoms on Lake Oahe. Missouri River is open in Bismarck-Mandan with some success farther north around Stanton. Tailrace slowed.
New Town, Scenic 23, Lake Sakakawea: Continued fair to good for crappie and perch.
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: Some activity around Baker's Bridge with its open water using smelt for pike. Some walleye mixed in. Also try Landing 3 on Lake Darling or Grano.
Williston, Scenic Sports, Lake Sakakawea / Missouri River / area lakes: Trenton Lake producing crappie with the Little Muddy River good for pike. Look for activity on area perch lakes.
LAKE LEVELS
Devils Lake elevation, March 7: 1,453.42 feet above mean sea level.
Stump Lake elevation, March 7: 1.453.43 feet.
Lake Sakakawea elevation, March 7: 1,837.9 feet; 22,000 cubic feet per second average Garrison Dam daily releases.
SKIING
Downhill skiing, March 7:
Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: Some 10- to 18-inch base with powder conditions. All runs and lifts open with several jumps and rails in the Terrain Park and three runs in the Tube Park.
Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: About 15 inches new snow over the past two weeks with all runs open on about 25-inch base and in good condition. Open Thursday through Sunday.
Huff Hills, Mandan: Some 21- to 46-inch base with powder and packed powder conditions. All runs and two lifts open with Bunny Tow.
Terry Peak, Lead, S.D.: Some 16- to 26-inch base with machine groomed, packed powder conditions. Twenty-seven runs and four lifts open.
CROSS COUNTRY
N.D. Parks & Recreation Report cross-country ski trails report:
Grahams Island, Devils Lake: Trails open and in fair condition.
Icelandic, Cavalier: About 4-inch packed base with trails in fair condition.
Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau: Trails open but in poor condition.
HUNTING
Light goose migration:
North Dakota: About 4 to 6 inches of snow cover remains in the southeast so bird movement will be held to the south around the snow line.
South Dakota: Hamlin County has good numbers of birds with several thousand birds using Dry Lake and Lake Poinsett with small flocks scattered throughout the county. Best opportunities could be north and south of Interstate-90 west of Sioux Falls and along the S.D.-Nebraska border with birds scattered north and south in southeastern South Dakota.