NDGF plans fish surveys on smaller reservoirs
DEVILS LAKE -- The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will sample a handful of smaller lakes and reservoirs in the northeastern part of the state this summer.
According to Randy Hiltner, northeastern district fisheries supervisor for Game and Fish in Devils Lake, the department samples about 10 smaller district lakes and Devils Lake every year and "lower priority" lakes every other year.
Among the smaller reservoirs slated for sampling this summer are Larimore Dam, Kolding Dam, Homme Dam, Matejcek Dam and Lake Laretta.
Game and Fish stocked Larimore Dam with 10,000 northern pike fingerlings in 2009 and 10,000 walleye fingerlings in 2008, while Kolding Dam has received 1,000 pike fingerlings annually since 2003. Homme Dam received 18,000 pike fingerlings in 2009 and 22,000 walleye fingerlings in 2008, while the department stocked Matejcek with 13,000 pike fingerlings in 2009 and 18,000 pike fingerlings in 2008. Lake Laretta, in Nelson County, is best known for its northern pike fishing, though Game and Fish hasn't stocked it since planting 35,000 northern pike in 1997.
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-- Brad Dokken
Trout remain to catch at Ryan Pond in GF
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department stocked 700 "catchable-size" rainbow trout into Ryan Pond in Grand Forks on May 20 in advance of the annual kids' fishing day event held May 23. Randy Hiltner, northeastern district fisheries supervisor for Game and Fish in Devils Lake, said there was a good turnout of young anglers for the annual Park Board event, but "not that many fish were caught." Still, he said, more people are becoming aware of the pond's trout fishing opportunities and are taking kids to fish from shore. The pond is relatively shallow, about 12 feet at the deepest, Hiltner said, and it's not likely that trout survive the winter.
The Game and Fish Department, Grand Forks County Wildlife Federation and Grand Forks Park District partnered to improve Ryan Pond last year. The partners, along with Scheel's Sporting Goods, co-sponsored the recent "Hooked on Fishing" event.
-- Brad Dokken
Did you know?
- North Dakota's annual free fishing weekend is Saturday and Sunday. During the weekend, North Dakota residents can fish without a license for all species except paddlefish.
-A rule requiring anglers in North Dakota to drain live wells and bait wells before leaving the water isn't yet law, but the Game and Fish Department still is encouraging people to do their part to reduce the risk of transferring aquatic nuisance species between bodies of water. Game and Fish has submitted a proposal to implement the requirement that, if approved, likely would take effect Oct. 1. State law already requires boaters to remove aquatic vegetation from watercraft, trailers and other equipment when out of water.
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- Todayis the deadline to submit applications for North Dakota's 2010 deer gun season. Info: gf.nd.gov.
- As they do every year at this time, officials from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department are asking people not to touch animals that appear to be orphaned. Whether it's a young fawn, duckling, cottontail rabbit or a songbird, it's best just to leave them alone, officials say.
- Motorists this time of year need to be on the lookout for deer along roadways. According to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, June is one of the peak months for deer-vehicle accidents because young animals are dispersing from their home ranges. With deer more active during these months, the potential for car-deer collisions increases.
-The new boat ramp on Sucker Bay of Leech Lake opened this past weekend, the DNR said. The access is located at the site of the former Maple Leaf Resort on the northeastern corner of the lake.
- Construction of the 16½-mile Guthrie to Walker, Minn., segment of the Paul Bunyan State Trail in northern Minnesota is complete, and the trail opened this past weekend, the DNR said. The 11½-mile segment from Bemidji to Guthrie was completed last year, the DNR said. Construction was primarily on the old Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad grade.
- compiled by Brad Dokken
