By Nick Simonson It was 20 years ago this summer I took a job in between college and law school as a part time reporter for my hometown newspaper, the Valley City Times-Record.  In fact, it’s a publication for which I still proudly write today, and I am happy and sometimes amazed that they’ve kept…

By Doug Leier After nearly 40 years with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the last 15 years serving as director, Terry Steinwand has decided to retire at the end of July. Terry on his career path to becoming Director. I started out as a Garrison Diversion fisheries biologist. I managed the canal lakes…

By Brad Durick The water continues to fall on the northern Red River. Everywhere is now flowing lower than I have ever seen. The catfish are in search of any current they can find, which in above dam areas is getting more and more difficult to locate. When you do find it, you generally get…

By Mike Peluso We have had some changes in weather here in North Dakota and a cold front that also brought in much needed moisture. So, what did this do to the fishing this week? Except for a few slower moments, walleye angling has remained good to excellent! Lake Sakakawea remains strong with lots of…

By Nick Simonson There are many options when it comes to catching crappies, most involving a small minnow.  Whether under a slip float or on a jig, live bait is king when summer slabs are feeding, but on some lakes, baitfish are prohibited, and in many cases, light tackle anglers enjoy the challenge of fishing…

By Nick Simonson The first thing I look at when inspecting a young angler’s reel is the type of line coming off of the spool.  Over the holiday, I had the opportunity to connect with my wife’s cousin’s kids and introduce them to my style of bass fishing.  While we had angled together a number…

By Brad Durick Catfishing on the Red River remains very good as the post spawn fish continue to feed and bulk back up. It seems fish can be caught about anyway you want to angle for them at this point in the season, and mid-river holes are the best bet right now when it comes…

By Nick Simonson The rising sun heated the morning air like a fuse on the fireworks launched the night before and as it came up over the slightly rippled waters of the northern lake on Independence Day, the fishing exploded in the same fashion.  Along the inside turns of the reed beds, under the mats…

NDG&F Release The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of invasive zebra mussels in Twin Lakes, LaMoure County, after a local cabin owner reported adult mussels attached to a floating log over the weekend. Aquatic nuisance species coordinator Ben Holen said subsequent follow-up sampling found a few other zebra mussels attached…

By Mike Peluso The fishing right now is just as hot as the temperatures! Some things have changed a little and some things have stayed the same. Lake Sakakawea is unreal right now! Tons of fish are being caught in that 15 to 18 inch range and some really nice sized fish are mixed in….

By Nick Simonson While drought conditions persist across much of North Dakota, with severe levels in the west-central portion of the state around Lake Sakakawea, much of the state has received some badly needed rain which is not only good for foliage and farming, but hopefully this year’s crop of pheasant chicks as well.  While…

By Kellen Latendresse As this fishing report finds you, I hope you are enjoying time with your friends and family. Personally, I am torn. I’m torn between driving across the country to visit my wife’s family or staying behind to partake in some of the best fishing of the summer. As I have recently finished…

By Nick Simonson I can’t help it.  My mindset has already shifted toward hunting, despite only being a week removed from the summer solstice, the July Fourth holiday not here yet and there being nearly a full three months of the season remaining. It happens every year about this time. I know it shouldn’t but…

By Brad Durick It’s safe to say the spawn is done and the catfish are feeding. There are many fish being caught all up and down the Red River. It appears the fish are moving to holes and more summer areas to take  up residence. Fish the top, middle and outer edges of holes. Wood…

By Doug Leier A reader emailed recently to suggest that I should focus less in my columns on safety, as “it takes the fun away from being outdoors.” I do always consider that “too much” factor when I write or talk about safety, but I’ve also seen enough injuries and dead bodies, especially early in…

By Andrew Slette Stable weather and water temps have the muskies very active and transitioning into their late spring patterns. The bite out on local lakes following the cold front a week ago has been phenomenal. This provided us with multiple fish most days and six muskies this past Friday. Casting and trolling have both…

NDG&F Release North Dakota’s spring pheasant population index is about the same as last year, according to the state Game and Fish Department’s 2021 spring crowing count survey. R.J. Gross, upland game management biologist, said the number of roosters heard crowing this spring was up about 3% statewide. “The statewide number might be a bit…

By Mike Peluso Well, I’m pretty sure I completely jinxed myself with my last report talking about my boat puller “Old Blue.” Unfortunately, Old Blue is no longer with us today and I’m looking for a replacement. Thank goodness for my dad letting me borrow his vehicle until I can figure something out. What I…

By Nick Simonson While much of the hustle and bustle of spring is wrapping up at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Valley City Fish Hatchery, after a season full of rearing northern pike and walleye eggs to stockable sized fish to be distributed throughout the upper Midwest, an expanding project is underway to see…

By Nick Simonson Summertime means an uptick in fish activity, and it also means fish are looking up for food.  Frogs, small mammals, insects and even ducklings find themselves on the surface this time of year along with growing young of the year fish, providing easy targets for both largemouth and smallmouth bass.  The warmth…

By Hannah Hayes Recruit, Retain, Reactivate, or R3, is a nationwide effort aiming to increase participation in various outdoor recreation activities like hunting, fishing, nature photography, hiking, and many more. Focusing on hunting, R3 efforts aim to increase accessibility, education, and support to facilitate new hunters to dive into the world of hunting, ensure current…

NDG&F Release North Dakota’s deer gun lottery has been held and more than 7,900 deer gun licenses remain. Only resident applicants who were unsuccessful in the lottery can apply for remaining licenses.More than 79,000 individuals applied for a deer gun lottery license, in addition to over 12,400 gratis applicants. The 2021 deer gun proclamation allows…

In the grasses along the ditch that drains to the small trout creek down the road from the family cabin grows a reminder of the summer solstice.  While I’m not always there to see them in full bloom, and sometimes they’re not yet at that stage due to seasonal timings and conditions, I often look…

By Doug Leier  Even with more places to fish, boat and enjoy the water than ever before in North Dakota, the increase in opportunity also means an increase in anglers, boats and personal watercraft.   It’s a unique combination that can lead to isolated problems at boat ramps when everyone has the same idea: Get on the…

By Mike Peluso My truck has 275,000 miles on it and I hold my breath every time I have to make the journey from Devils Lake to Lake Sakakawea. So far, the limp back and forth has gone okay, and old blue is still grinding. I have a bunch more to go this summer, so…

By Nick Simonson Long before I owned a boat, I spent much of my summers in high school, college and law school at my grandparents’ cabin on the shores of Detroit Lakes.  Between Memorial Day and Labor Day in those later years, as graduations loomed and then passed, and the liberty of post-secondary education waned…

By Kellen Latendresse When it comes to fishing, central North Dakota is in that magical month.  I live in Minot and right now you can go north, south, east or west and find fish for the frying pan or a picture.   Walleyes have been heating up on most prairie lakes as water temperatures are in…

By John Bradley We have all seen it, the empty beer can in the ditch, the plastic bag that tangled in a branch – anywhere humans go we tend to leave trash behind, including sportsmen and women. While we should all strive to leave no trace when are in the woods and water, we can…

By Nick Simonson Through the valleys and hills of the sporting clays course east of town, we tracked the movements of our five high school shooters logging their final rounds of the season.  Sunday’s rounds were different, in that they comprised the last 100 targets of the year and the first to be entered into…

By Brad Durick Water temperatures on the Red River are nearing 80 degrees this week and many of the flow’s catfish are now on the nest or getting ready to spawn. This week fishing has been spotty in most areas with lack of current to hold fish and make them predictable, as most sections of…