By Nick Simonson Atop the tank of the basement toilet, where any good publication of any sort rests in any household, sits a well-worn copy of the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. As a smaller reference book, it tops of the stack of old Outdoor Life and Dakota Country…

By Doug Leier One of the struggles in preaching about safety is that, quite honestly, no one heads out the door thinking a boating or water tragedy may occur.  No matter the outdoor activity, there’s always a safety checklist, and I’ll never lose sight of the importance of keeping everyone safe from start to finish….

By Brad Durick We finally got in the Red River at Grand Forks on Sunday, June 12. As far as I know the two Grand Forks ramps are the only two open boat accesses on the on the Red River right now. As of now there should be little change. Due to the river levels…

By Mike Peluso Things have really started to heat up here on Devils Lake! The impressive walleyes and total weights in the Spirit Lake Casino Tournament recently are evidence of that. So, what’s working for walleyes? Maybe a better question or easier question would be “what isn’t!?” I truly believe you can catch fish on…

By Courtney Wilhelm For most of my life, I had dreamt of experiencing a mountain lion hunt and it was at the top of my hunting bucket list. For a time it seemed as if it would never be anything more than a fantasy but in December, I was able to embark on a trip…

By Nick Simonson For some, the scent of summer is that of hamburgers on the grill, floating into the evening air between houses and through yards, ringing the mental bell of Pavlov’s dog in even the most civilized of us.  For others, it’s the smell of freshly opened lilacs, a sweet fragrance which industry has…

By Nick Simonson The Restoring America’s Wildlife Act (House Resolution 2773, or “RAWA”), introduced in the United States Congress in 2021, is a bill designed to improve habitat for threatened and endangered species throughout the U.S., but its benefits go far beyond those at-risk creatures in decline around the country.  Through contributions to state management…

By Doug Leier I’ve connected with many compassionate people in person, on the phone and via email regarding situations with young wildlife, and I understand it’s not easy to step back from the urge to “help” an animal. Most people understand why the answer remains consistent even if they don’t like it. The best advice…

By Brad Durick Finally, I get to tell you something good. The projections the past few days on the Red River have the ramps in Grand Forks opening as early as Saturday, but it will probably more like Monday. Water temperatures and the time of year are saying we missed the best part of the…

By Mike Peluso We finally have received a couple lighter wind days and we have also been able to get around Devils Lake a little more. Both of which have helped the fishing. The water hasn’t warmed up a ton yet but it’s getting better, it is currently 60-62 degrees and the water is mixed….

By Nick Simonson The workings of rut-influenced bucks go a bit haywire in November.  Where they could be patterned in summer and early fall, their daily mechanics go out the window when the breeding season hits and they’re driven by natural instincts to do their part in begetting the next generation.  The same can be…

By Nick Simonson “That’s why they say Montana is the big leagues of fly fishing.” My brother’s words stung like a spring training cut for the lifetime AAA baseball player that knew this was his last shot at the majors, but still found the pink slip tucked into the air slot on his April Arizona…

By Nick Simonson In the turn of the creek so tiny I could step across it I saw the tell-tale sign that suggested brook trout were lurking along the cut.  The fast water of the tiny flow rolling down from the small impoundment in the recreation area above spun out against the grassy bank, still…

By Brad Durick Storms over the weekend have put our flood situation on the Red River right back where it was last week. Only this time, we will have to wait a week for the river to rise and fall again. It now looks like around June 15 before boats will be able to get…

By Mike Peluso I honestly cannot believe this is my last spring river fishing report. It just feels like we all got cheated out of a nice long season here. It is what it is, so here we go. Looking back, the Missouri River opened up around Bismarck in mid-March like normal. Maybe it was…

By Nick Simonson When afforded the opportunity, accessing an entire lake, stretch of river, or impoundment provides the greatest clarity on where fish are, what they’re up to, and how they’re biting.  While sometimes we’re limited by time, access, and terrain; a boat or a fishing trail around many angling destinations opens things up, and…

By Nick Simonson With the lottery drawing deadline for the 2022 North Dakota firearms deer season fast approaching on June 8, many factors influence the set number of tags awarded through the state’s online lottery process: herd health, weather conditions, disease and habitat availability affect the opportunities made available to hunters during the state’s most…

By Nick Simonson Staring out over the glassy lake, the early morning was a symphony of spring, and like the trill of the redwing blackbirds coming from down the beach in the brush surrounding the high flowing creek, it was a far cry from the day before.  Then, as my wife and I took the…

By Brad Durick All of my Red River reports from last year had some mention of low water and dealing with where we could and could not go. Let’s start 2022 off with a change. We have been flooding here on the Red River  since mid-April. It is officially the latest start to catfishing that…

By Doug Leier One of the most important aspects of drawing a North Dakota regular season lottery license is applying by the deadline. Seems simple enough, right? Our licensing folks could certainly entertain you with the many applications that come in the final 24-48 hours. Waiting until the last minute doesn’t improve the odds of…

By Jarrod Fredericks Angling for all species in northeastern South Dakota has been ramping up as conditions stabilize and temperatures warm.  Water temperatures are nearing the 60 degree mark and we are seeing the walleyes firing up.  Currently most lakes have bass and crappies in the shallows for spawn. Trolling crankbaits a bit deeper has…

By Mike Peluso Walleye fishing on the Missouri River has definitely improved since Wednesday of last week. The water in the river is settling back down, it’s clearing up, and the fish are responding. I’m almost done on the river here near Bismarck for the spring. A few more trips and I will be headed…

By John Bradley The warning signs are there for America’s wildlife and if you listen close, you can hear the alarm bells ringing. Across the nation, over a third of wildlife species are at a heightened risk of extinction. Here in North Dakota, the Game & Fish Department (NDG&F) has identified 115 species in need…

By Nick Simonson In good springs and bad, snowy ones and warm ones, no matter how the kids come out of the final day of competition in the USA High School Clay Target League’s regular season, it’s the four weeks in between today’s end of the often chilly, windy, and trying eight weeks that make…

By Doug Leier The 38 game wardens in North Dakota come from a variety of backgrounds and interests but each bring to the Game and Fish Department a special skill, talent and ability. Spending time at the Department’s booth at the Sportsman Show this winter I enjoyed the conversations with hunters, anglers, kids and those…

By Mike Peluso Boom goes the dynamite if you are looking for action! Early this spring I was questioning if we had a population of smaller fish. Well, I’m here to tell you we do! Unfortunately, I fear these are older fish finding very little to eat and not growing much. The bigger fish in…

By Nick Simonson Recharged prairie potholes across North Dakota welcomed returning waterfowl to the state, following a challenging 2021, which saw the single largest percentage drop in prairie wetlands within the state’s borders in the 74-year history of the annual survey conducted by the North Dakota Game & Fish Department.  After significant snow events in…

By Nick Simonson With the drought of 2021 in the rearview mirror for the Red River valley of eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota, following significant spring snows and ample April rains, the challenging conditions which limited angling opportunities for the flow’s large catfish late last summer and into fall are also in the past. …

By Nick Simonson It’s been a long mix of chilly winter and underwhelming spring.  Cold temperatures, snow, rain and general nastiness extending into May have built up a longing for the warmth of the later stretch of the season and the start of summer, and maybe with recent changes in the pattern, just possibly, that…

By Doug Leier The fishing opener for North Dakota was technically April 1. No fooling. Anglers fishing in North Dakota needed a new fishing license April 1, 2022 as the previous license expired March 31. It’s been that way for almost 30 years. The harvest of big fish in spring before walleye or northern pike…