NDG&F Dept. Press Release North Dakota’s 2018 deer season is set, with 55,150 licenses available to hunters this fall, 650 more than last year. In total, antlered mule deer licenses increased by 150 from last year, antlerless mule deer by 550, antlered whitetail by 150 and antlerless whitetail by 150. The North Dakota Game and…

BROWN TOWN. We’re off the Edge getting our stream trout fix in old stomping grounds and sharing some of our favorite tactics with you as part of today’s Three Things. Photo: A brown trout rests streamside in the net prior to release. Simonson Photo. DAILY CONDITIONS: WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Wed 5/16 – Even hotter! Hi…

LOON-ACY.  While the name of the bird “loon” is NOT derived from the moon, or lunar, a good number of other words are. We talk about those origins and the pull of the moon on fish and wildlife in today’s Three Things. Photo: A loon moves about in the gray morning light. Simonson Photo. DAILY…

JUST HANGIN’ OUT!  What a great start to the week, perfect for fishing, shooting sports, barbecuing or taking it easy.  In the cool waters of this late spring, those quick tactics might not be hitting their stride as they normally do in this stretch of the season, and we talk in today’s Three Things about…

BIG TIME BASSIN!  Largemouth bass are pre-spawn right now, which means some of the best fishing for the biggest lunkers of the year is at hand.  Get insight on how these fish react to the world around them in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: DEO’s Nick Simonson with an 18-inch largemouth caught on a…

WIDE OPEN. Looking east, the Land of 10,000 Lakes opens up with ice still breaking apart on many northern tier lakes, while the “opener” in terms of iceout here in ND was some time ago for most fisheries in the state, with Sakakawea finally clearing this week.  We talk about the function of opening days,…

By Nick Simonson Spring is the time for big fish, and big fish have been coming up in good numbers throughout the last few seasons, thanks to increased practice of catch and release by conservation-minded anglers looking to continue the opportunities for trophy-sized fish and sustainable fisheries.  The success of North Dakota’s continuous fishing season…

HONK HONK! Glad we have your attention!  It’s not unusual while shore fishing to encounter Canada geese lining up along area waters this time of year as they start their nests.  Just remember to give those mothers a wide berth while on their eggs or tending to their young! We talk about that and more…

By Nick Simonson “If the trout have been stocked, it’ll be fast and furious,” I explained to my buddy Adam, “if they’re not in the lake yet, the bites will be fewer, but the fish will all be big,” I concluded on our sort of all-or-nothing venture to a prairie impoundment known for its handful…

MESSED UP.  A quick cooldown with a good chance for rain might put a kink in your afternoon fishing plans, giving you some time to reset and clear your mind (and your desk?) and get ready for a weekend full of improvement.  By Sunday, you’ll forget all about today’s little downward slide and be fast…

WHAT FEATURES! If you had to go through the state and pick the three greatest features of North Dakota, what would they be?  We’ve got a trio in mind that boast plentiful fish and game and stand out…but we might be wrong (never happened before…this hour).  Let us know your thoughts after reading today’s Three…

NDG&F Press Release The North Dakota Game and Fish Department completed its annual spring mule deer survey in April, and results indicate western North Dakota’s mule deer population is similar to last year, and 45 percent above the long-term average. Biologists counted 2,540 mule deer in 245.8 square miles during this year’s survey. Overall mule…

ROLLIN’  It was an active evening of stationary rain up north while thunderstorms rolled through and around the Bismarck-Mandan area and the southern tier of the state, with some severe.  After a stretch of good spring weather, and this first disruption (since April’s last snow), it’s time to think post-frontal and post-spawn for some fish…

ON THE LOOKOUT.  Some instability sweeps over the region after two weeks of relative calm and warmth with a chance for thunderstorms tonight and temperatures tumbling later this week on a  quick-hitter cold front. While spring provides a chance for fast fishing, don’t forget about your faithful four-legged friend as training options open up to…

SWEET RELEASE. By now you should have all that pent-up winter energy out of your system!  Today caps off an ideal spring weekend that had many fishing, running, shotgunning, and taking care of things in the outdoors.  Get every hour out of it! We go around the color wheel with general outdoors tips and a…

HEADS UP! Our streak of great weekends continues today, as temps settle into the 70s for highs and fishing action continues to heat up around the region.  The Big Muddy is happening today on the Missouri River in Bismarck-Mandan, so check out the boats as you pass over the I-94 bridge on your fishing trip…

By Nick Simonson As an angler that enjoys a variety of styles of angling for a number of species, I’ve often talked about “matching the hatch” in order to find success, no matter how or where I’m presenting a bait, lure or fly.  Truly originating in the world of fly fishing, the term has come…

WARM WEEKEND. Things are shaping up for a great weekend with warm temperatures, light winds and near perfect conditions. Get out there and enjoy it as spring fishing hits its high point.  We talk about that and more in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: Burning Bright. The sun sets over the Missouri River valley….

DARE YA!  Some of the oldest names in the outdoors are still staples in tackleboxes, hunting camp and on the ice.  We have a little trivia fun in today’s Three Things, so get your guessing hat (a/k/a Google) on and get to it. Featured Photo: A Daredevle spoon fresh off the shelf and ready for…

By Nick Simonson With openwater fishing underway and things moving at a fast pace for spawning pike, running walleyes and both smallmouth and largemouth bass set to join in on the annual movements, a pattern that’s already paying off is Lefty’s Deceiver.  This big baitfish imitator, created by renowned angler and fly tier Lefty Kreh,…

READY TO ROCK. Spring is here, and all around us animals are competing for mates and getting ready to beget the next generation.  We talk about some of the more vocal and showy species of birds engaged in some springtime strongmanning in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Puffery.  A rooster pheasant with full red eye…

CHILL FOR A BIT.  Today’s a one-day drop in temperatures and we rebound nicely tomorrow.  Use the cool down to get those spring things done and be ready for what looks to be another good weekend ahead.  In preparation for that we talk about just what you can be cooking those fillets with in today’s…

By Nick Simonson Dark brown water rushed over the small Texas crossing on the tributary feeding the last of the late-spring melt into the big river a mile below.  A week ago, the pool formed below the rocky step was encased in twenty feet of shoreline ice that prohibited all but the longest cast of…

FULL CURL. There are a number of good ways to add weight, flash and attraction to the head of the fly.  We look at three different options for getting a pattern just right, wehther you need, a little extra weight or a realistic accent to get the fish to bite.   Featured Photo: Gold &…

By Nick Simonson As rivers open up around the region, anglers are finally able to take advantage of walleye movements and the rather voracious appetite of these fish in this period just before the spawn.  With the shortened time frame this year, access to walleyes ahead of their runs is limited, so knowing where to…

GREAT GUSTS.  Today’s wind gusts into the mid-30-mph range may serve as the end of the beginning for busting up and blowing off whatever lake ice is left floating around in most areas of the state. We look ahead at that and go around the horn in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: Take a…

ON A LARK.  Spring is in full force as robins, geese, meadowlarks and ducks of all kinds are making their presence known. Warm and windy conditions will dominate the weekend, so watch that fire index and get out early and late to match the moon times and the lower wind speeds. Featured Photo: Pretty Bird. …

DON’T BE DECEIVED! Despite the approaching summer-like temperatures, fish are making their spring moves around the state and both pike and walleyes are undertaking their truncated seasonal runs in the region right now on flows from the Red River to Lake Ashtabula to the Missouri River system.  Reports are that the hot weather is spurring…

By Nick Simonson While controlled burns and even natural fires can serve a purpose in regenerating habitat this time of year, unintended blazes sparked by careless use of fire can cause unwanted damage to property and potentially threaten the lives of both wildlife and people.  Knowing how to properly manage a campfire, being aware of…