By Nick Simonson   Except in those instances where the steelhead were running hard and fast up the tributaries of Lake Superior, or the walleyes were so thick one could nearly walk across them on Devils Lake’s famed Channel A in the spring, I’ve rarely fished in a scenario that would cause my line to…

THE FIRST.  Happy first day of spring!  Well, effective 10:50pm today (Thu. 3/19) anyhow!  We’ve got great views, great reads and a look at your weekend fishing conditions in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  DAMP. A rooster pheasant hangs out under the canopy on a damp Wednesday morning near Bismarck. Simonson Photo. WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast):…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. You won’t find a U.S. Census taker out on the ice knocking on fish house doors looking to ask a few questions. But it is possible that anglers at Stump Lake this winter, and Lake Audubon last year, did get a tap on the door from a clipboard-carrying surveyor. These…

LAST DAY!  You’ve reached the last full day of winter, congratulations!  Shake off your green beer hangover and get caught up on moving light geese, more CWD concerns to the east and whether or not to add a drop or spray of attractant to your lure as waters open up.  All that and more in…

UNTOUCHABLE.  While those events which fuel conservation efforts might be scrapped by the coronavirus this spring, a return to the outdoors likely won’t be.  Make sure you’re licensed and ready to roll and have all the news to you need to get set for open water in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:   Top O’ The…

MONDAY MONITOR.  We’re checking out the approaching spring conditions from what remains of winter to the threat of flooding in the near term.  Along with that, we get some thoughts on where to go to get away from people during the Covid-19 outbreak, where that option is or will be available. Featured Photo:  CASTS COMING. …

By Nick Simonson   With spring planting just around the corner, farm and ranch operators throughout the upper Midwest are preparing to implement their plans coming off a very wet 2019.  Where lower areas spent much of late summer and early fall flooded with excessive water, many are considering better options for those acres with…

OUR INDOORS.  You might be stuck at home, you may be social distancing, you could just be ducking a squall of snow and getting ready for spring.  Whatever has you inside today, we’ve got those plans in our Outdoors Roundup to help you get ready for your adventures when things improve! Featured Photo:  Get Organized. …

By John Bradley, NDWF Executive Director   Hunters and anglers are active and engaged outdoors people and spending time outside is why many of us live in North Dakota. Whether you like to hunt, fish, camp, hike, or any one of hundreds of other available outdoor opportunities, we know how to get it done. Our…

WINTER’S LAST GASP?  We’ll get some snow this weekend, but the models keep pushing the bulk of it north.  While there are some predictions for an event later next week, conditions may be warm enough to keep it to rain, in the meantime we keep thinking spring with tips for the upcoming season! Featured Photo: …

By Nick Simonson   A few hours of staring at unpopped flags on a small pike lake didn’t pay off a couple weekends ago for me and my oldest son, but the glare from the snow on the ice did provide my first sunburn of the season.  Last weekend’s fast-melting conditions made a trip for…

LUCK OF THE DRAW. If you’re looking to get lucky, put your name in to the ND “Big 3” lotteries for the once-in-a-lifetime elk, moose and bighorn sheep tags.  In our Outdoors Roundup we check out the new NDG&F webcast previewing the process. Featured Photo:  GOOD RUN.  A black crappie took this Road Runner jig…

BLUSTERY!  Winds will pick up today making time outdoors challenging.  As we watch the approaching system and snow totals dropping as models align, we’ve got news and notes from across the upper tier of the upper Midwest as part of today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  White Walkers?  We’re watching the weather for this weekend and…

HUMP DAY!    Welcome to Wednesday and what will be the nicest day of the week.  We have an eye on some weekend weather, pronghorn harvest numbers from last season and what’s happening in Washington as part of today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  BUCK YEAH.  A buck pronghorn pauses in the grass west of Mandan….

NDG&F Release North Dakota’s 2020-22 fishing proclamation is set, with regulations effective April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022. Anglers are reminded new fishing licenses are required April 1. The 2020-22 North Dakota Fishing Guide has a new look. The 52-page document offers the same information, but in a much more user-friendly format. Anglers can find the…

KEEP CALM.  Carry on with your outdoor activities!  Conditions will again allow for good times outside with highs hitting 40 and light winds making things pleasant.  We’re still watching for some weekend spookiness, but models aren’t aligned yet.  Until then we’ve got more news you can use in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  SUNRISE.  The…

STILL, DECENT.  Calmer conditions settle in for the front half of the week, but it appears like all good things, there may be a price to pay for it as next weekend approaches. We’ll keep an eye on what’s in store and where the threat of snow may fall; you get caught up on spring…

THE COOLDOWN.  Here’s hoping you enjoyed the above-average stretch of weather we experienced last week as things cool off to more seasonal levels in the coming days.  We’ve got some good views and reads today on sausage making, a haven for ruffies, and the battle against invasive jumping fish in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo: …

SUPERB SATURDAY!  Things are looking great today as good weather aligns with a growing moon which will hit full on Monday.  Get out on that late ice, or target those openwater opportunities that are starting to occur under dams and other stretches where fish will start thinking about staging. We’ve got more for your weekend…

By Nick Simonson   With the recent warm stretch and receding snowline in the upper Midwest, many outdoors enthusiasts have their eyes to the skies watching for the return of waterfowl species to the region.  Snow goose hunters in particular are preparing for the here-today-gone-tomorrow nature of migratory light geese that pass through the area…

THE RIVER.  Welcome to Friday! Things will settle down some after gale-force Thursday and a good weekend is setting up for your outdoor activities.   We’ve got a Big 3 reminder, some great venison recipes and the push for more secure funding for wild spaces in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  HONKERS.  Canada geese stake their…

By Nick Simonson   I can recall the sun rising over the eastern waters of Devils Lake as I headed to the hotel to meet my parents for a weekend of early spring fishing on the just-opened channels of the north end of the sprawling lake.  The rays shimmered on the lightly rippled bay and…

NDG&F Release Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. The deadline to apply is March 25. A total of 523 elk licenses are available to hunters this fall, an increase of 45 from last year. A total of 474 moose licenses are available, a decrease of…

THE TURN.  The fourth day of your work week will bring windy conditions, and while the outlying gusts may still top 50 mph, winds will likely be steady in the 30-40 mph range.  While you tighten your hat straps, we’ve got news and tips from around the state in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:   HOLE…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept.   As a biologist, when I hear, see and read information on chronic wasting disease, I try to focus on the facts and the details known at the present time. That’s an important point to understand in dealing with wildlife diseases. While in North Dakota the number of cases is…

READY, SET, GO!  The wheels are spinning fast on spring and it looks like we’re making a hard charge toward the season a bit early this year as conditions warm up throughout the week, guessing the first robin will arrive soon. We’ve got updates on what the weather may have in store for March, a…

CUTTING INTO IT. Things continue to beige up on the landscape as snow melts away in what is starting out as a mild March.  We’ve got an update on snow cover, new boating regs to the west and how to add some color to your creations in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:   COLORATION.  A selection…

WINDY WEEK.  Gusts will continue throughout much of the week as a springlike pattern settles in over the region aiding in melting and drying.  Early meteogram runs are showing midweek gusts on Thursday near 70 mph (SEVENTY?!?) which would be downright amazing.  We’re thinking spring with boating and fishing tips in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured…

By Nick Simonson   If it’s fly tying season and you’re thinking spring is coming outdoors, you’ve got to be thinking summer when it comes to finishing off your patterns.  The later stretches of the cold weather season often reflect the planning for the latter stages in the warm water season, and tying projects often…

LAMBISH?  March arrives on stiff northwest winds, but no snow and temps above freezing keep things positive to start the final month of winter. We’ve got updates on severity along with news and notes from around ND to get you geared up for this great time of transition! Featured Photo:   HONEYCOMB.  Late season ice begins…