OUTDOORS REPORT: Fishing, hunting, skiing, snowmobiling

Lake of the Woods

Permanent houses have to be off the lake by Sunday, and resorts are wrapping up their winter seasons. Anglers have been catching an equal mix of walleyes and saugers, along with some big pike, jumbo perch and tullibees. The best reports are coming off the 29- to 34-foot mud or the reefs near Rocky Point and Knight and Bridges islands. There has been a better walleye bite early and late in the day in front of both gaps off Pine Island in 15 to 17 feet of water.

In the Northwest Angle area, Allen Edman of Edman's Angling Adventures guide service said there's steady walleye and sauger action in 26 to 32 feet of water during the day in Ontario waters. Late in the day, walleyes have been hitting in 16 to 18 feet of water off rock and sand transition areas near Oak Island. The fishing is good, Edman said, and should only get better as winter finishes out. There's plenty of ice and deep snow, so anglers should be on the lookout for slush, Edman warns.

On the Rainy River, anglers are beginning to drag small boats across the ice to reach the sliver of open water near Birchdale, Minn. Look for the open water to widen and continue its downstream march in the coming days.

Lake Winnipeg

Time to break out the 18-inch extensions and rubber boots for the last weekend on Lake Winnipeg, where fishing season closes Sunday, fishing guide Jason Hamilton of Winnipeg said. The snowpack is starting to melt, which will mean sloppy lake conditions and muddy access points. Walleye action is hot along the south shore, Hamilton said; anglers should fish in 8 to 12 feet of water early and late in the day and move deeper midday. Rattle baits, darters and flutter spoons are doing most of the damage, Hamilton said, but anglers shouldn't discount a jig and minnow to coax some big fish to bite.

Devils Lake

"Not much to report," is the word from Kyle Blanchfield of Woodland Resort. Warmer weather this weekend should help shrink the abundant snowpack, Blanchfield said, but lingering cold has kept the ice thickness at more than 30 inches. The resort has some limited plowed trails on Creel Bay, Blanchfield said, and anglers have caught some decent perch near the retreat center. Snowmobiles or other tracked vehicles remain the most feasible options for getting around on the lake.

Bemidji area

Until more snow melts and some of the water soaks away, it will be difficult getting on area lakes. Snowmobiles might be the best travel option, but with all of the water below the snow, even that is a struggle.

Leech Lake

Travel options were limited early this week, and there is water under the snow. There are no roads open so the few people fishing are walking or using snowmobiles.

Lake Winnibigoshish

Fishing options are very limited because of deep snow and water under it. There are no roads being maintained, so snowmobiles are the only method of travel being used.

North Dakota light goose update

Spring snow goose hunters will have to wait a while longer because the arrival of snow geese in the state appears to be a few days off, according to the latest update from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. South Dakota reports good numbers of light geese near the snow line, the report said, and the geese will work their way north as the snow cover recedes.

Downhill skiing report

• Buena Vista Ski Area near Bemidji: Saturday will be the final day of the season, with hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; snow tubing is closed. There's a 26- to 50-inch base. Info: bvskiarea.com.

• Frostfire Ski Area near Walhalla, N.D.: Saturday will be the last day of the ski and snowboarding season. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and Saturday. There's a 20- to 25-inch base. Info: frostfireskiarea.com.

Cross-country skiing report

• Zippel Bay State Park, Minn.: Trail is partially groomed and in very good condition with a 14-inch base; local snow depth 31 inches.

• Elsewhere: No recent ski trail updates for state parks in northeast North Dakota and elsewhere in northwest Minnesota.

Snowmobile trails report

• Red River South Trail (Grand Forks and Walsh counties): Trails are open and in good condition and will be groomed by the weekend; 6- to 8-inch base; local snow depth 20 to 25 inches.

• Red River North Trail (Pembina and Walsh counties): Trails are open but will not be groomed by the weekend; 5- to 7 inch base; local snow depth 18 to 22 inches.

• Northeast Trail (Cavalier, Pembina and Walsh counties): Trail system is open except for parts of the Cavalier Trail, and the western portion of the trail system was groomed Wednesday; the eastern portion will not be groomed; 4- to 6-inch base; local snow depth 30 to 35 inches.

• Lake Region Trail (Nelson and Ramsey counties): Trails are open and in excellent condition but will not be groomed by the weekend; 6- to 8-inch base; local snow depth 20 to 30 inches.

• North Central Trail (Benson, McHenry, Pierce, Ramsey and Towner counties): Trails are open but won't be groomed this weekend; 8- to 12-inch base; local snow depth 24 to 30 inches.

• Peace Garden Trail (Bottineau and Rolette counties): All trails except No. 6 are open but will not be groomed this weekend; 6- to 8-inch base; local snow depth 25 to 35 inches.

• Beltrami Island State Forest East near Baudette, Minn.: Very good conditions; groomed, with a 10-inch base; local snow depth 22 inches.

• Big Bog State Recreation Area near Waskish, Minn.: Trails are groomed and in excellent shape; 7-inch base; local snow depth 22 inches.

• Zippel Bay State Park, Minn.: Trail is groomed and in very good conditions with a 14-inch base; local snow depth 31 inches.