Area outdoor activity reports

Lake of the woods

Last weekend's storm put a damper on fishing success, but north of Pine Island, look for a mix of walleyes and saugers in 26 to 31 feet of water. While fishing is spotty, overall, the best bite has been during the morning hours on glow jigs, and some of the bigger walleyes are being found suspended 3 to 6 feet off the bottom. Elsewhere, Zippel Bay is reporting good action in 17 to 24 feet of water, according to the latest report from Denny's Outdoor Sports in Roseau, Minn. Best fishing near Long Point is in 25 feet of water, the report said, and Babler's road north of Roosevelt, Minn., now is plowed to 16-Mile Reef. Springsteel Resort near Warroad, Minn., has roads plowed to all the reefs and the south tip of Buffalo, the report said, but anglers trying to reach Whiskey Flats are on their own. In the Northwest Angle area, Oak Island remains a good bet in 22 to 24 feet of water near reefs or areas with a sand or mud bottom.

Devils lake

There's not much to report since the recent storm, according to Ed's Bait Shop. Lake access is difficult with all the snow, and anglers are encountering pockets of slush off the plowed roads. Before the storms, the Fort Totten area was producing walleyes in 18 to 25 feet of water, with Walfords, Mission Bay and Doc Hagens also a decent bet for walleyes; anglers near Doc Hagens also were catching some perch. Other spots producing perch include Rocky Point, Military Point, the Towers, the Dome House, Black Tiger Bay and the north end of Six-Mile. For pike, look to the north end of Walfords, the north end of Six-Mile Bay and New Mill Bay.

Upper red lake

Walleyes are hitting jigging spoons and minnow heads in 8 to 12 feet of water during the day and in 6 to 8 feet during low-light periods. An occasional slab crappie also is pulled from these spots, and quite a few big pike have been taken on tip-ups or by accident.

Bemidji area

Walleye action has been spotty, but Lake Plantagenet, Wolf Lake, Lake Andrusia and Lake Bemidji are giving up a few during low-light periods in 25 to 30 feet of water. You'll catch perch on Bemidji with jigging spoons and minnow heads over 30 to 50 feet of water. Grace Lake and Grant Lake are worth noting for panfish. Measurable snow has caused slush to develop on some lakes so anglers should watch for those areas when traveling.

Blackduck area

Blackduck Lake is kicking out perch and walleyes in 12 to 14 feet. Jigging spoons tipped with wax worms have worked best for the bigger perch, while set lines or spoons are producing walleyes during low-light periods. Bluegills are biting early and late on Gull Lake in 14 to 20 of water and on Rabideau Lake in 12 to 14 feet.

Leech lake area

About 20 inches of snow fell last week so it has limited travel on the lake and fishing action, as well. Conditions seem to be better on the main lake than in Walker Bay, and a few roads have started to be developed on the big part of the lake. There is some slush to deal with so call ahead before just going out.

Lake winnibigoshish

You'll find perch on the south end of Horseshoe Bar and the sunken island in 22 to 30 feet of water. These areas also give up walleyes during the afternoon and evening, most of which are hitting jigging spoons. Tip-ups and minnows have provided steady pike action in these locations, as well. This area received about 15 inches of snow last week so anglers now are forced to stay on the plowed roads.

Detroit lakes

Fishing activity has been put on hold because of the deep snow and slush that resulted last week. It's difficult to get around on area lakes, and anglers are waiting for lake conditions to improve.

Park rapids area

Look to Portage Lake for sunfish and crappies in 10 to 16 feet of water. A few walleyes have come off Fish Hook Lake with fathead minnows in 25 to 30 feet. The weed lines of Long Lake continue to produce northern pike on tip-ups and sucker minnows. The area received more than a foot of snow last week, and slush has developed on many lakes so travel has been difficult.

Downhill skiing report

n Buena Vista Ski Area near Bemidji: 24- to 42-inch base, groomed, making snow, 9 inches of new snow. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today for skiing and boarding and 4 to 8 p.m. today for tubing; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday for skiing and boarding and noon to 6 p.m. for tubing; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday for skiing and boarding and noon to 6 p.m. for tubing. Info: www.bvskiarea.com .

n Frostfire Ski Area near Walhalla, N.D.: 25- to 35-inch base, 3 inches new snow, making snow when necessary. Open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Info: www.frostfireskiarea.com .

Area snowmobile trails report

n Red River-South (Grand Forks): Trail is open and will be fully groomed by this weekend. Trail conditions are good, 6-inch base, 3 inches of new snow, local snow depth 14 inches. Trail hotline: (701) 328-5377.

n Red River-North (Grafton, N.D.): Good snowmobiling conditions, and sections are being groomed, 6-inch base, 4 inches new snow, local snow depth 14 inches. Trail hotline: (701) 328-5377.

n Northeast, N.D.: Good trail conditions, 6-inch base, 4 inches of new snow, local snow depth 14 inches. Grooming is in progress. Trail hotline: (701) 328-5377.

n Devils Lake Region: Excellent trail conditions, 6-inch base, 4 inches of new snow and local snow depth 30 inches. Entire system is open and grooming. Trail hotline: (701) 328-5377.

n Mayville-Portland (N.D.) trail: Good conditions, and trails were groomed Thursday, 8-inch base, 4 inches of new snow, local snow depth 18 inches. Trail hotline: (701) 328-5377,

n Beltrami Island State Forest-East: Good snowmobiling conditions, 52½ miles groomed, local snow depth 19 inches.

n Big Bog State Recreation Area near Waskish, Minn.: Very good conditions, 4-inch trail base, local snow depth 18 inches.

n Hayes Lake State Park, Minn.: Excellent conditions, 5- to 10-inch trail base, six miles groomed, local snow depth 20 inches.

n Itasca State Park, Minn.: Excellent snowmobiling conditions. 32 miles groomed, local snow depth 18 inches.

n Lake Bemidji State Park: Good snowmobiling conditions, 3- to 4-inch base, three miles groomed, local snow depth 20 inches.

n Lake Bronson State Park, Minn.: Good snowmobiling conditions, three-mile trail not groomed, local snow depth 18 inches.

n Old Mill State Park, Minn.: Excellent snowmobiling conditions, one mile groomed, local snow depth 18 inches.

n Zippel Bay State Park, Minn.: Excellent snowmobiling conditions, 10-inch trail base, two miles groomed, local snow depth 20 inches.

Area cross-country ski report

n Turtle River State Park, N.D.: Cross-country ski trails (loops A and B) are open and in good condition with 6 inches of new snow in the past seven days and a trail base of 6 inches. The trails were groomed Wednesday.

n Icelandic State Park, N.D.: The ski and snowshoe trail through the campground is in good condition and open. It had 9 inches of snow over the past seven days with a total snow depth of 8 to 16 inches. It was groomed Tuesday. Trails in the Gunlogson Nature Preserve are open and in excellent condition, with 9 inches of new snow and a local snow depth of 12 to 16 inches. Trail was groomed Tuesday.

n Grahams Island State Park, N.D.: Good conditions, with 3 to 4 inches of new snow and local snow depth of 30 inches. The three-mile trail was groomed Tuesday and will be groomed again this coming Wednesday.

n Hayes Lake State Park, Minn.: Excellent conditions, 5- to 10-inch base, six miles groomed, local snow depth 20 inches.

n Itasca State Park, Minn.: Excellent skiing conditions, 6-inch trail base, 21 miles groomed, local snow depth 18 inches.

n Lake Bemidji State Park: Excellent skiing conditions, 5-inch base, 10 miles groomed, local snow depth 20 inches.

n Lake Bronson State Park, Minn.: Excellent skiing conditions, 7-inch base, seven miles groomed, local snow depth 18 inches.

n Old Mill State Park, Minn.: Poor skiing conditions, trails not groomed, local snow depth 18 inches.

n Zippel Bay State Park, Minn.: Excellent skiing conditions, 10-inch base, seven miles groomed, local snow depth 20 inches.