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…

FUNK DAT! Like fashion, fishing lures tend to go in a circle.  We remember when bucktail spinners were en vogue for pike and muskies, followed closely by marabou options.  Then big sparkly synthetic flashabou options became all the rage.  Now we’re back to where we started with natural materials being the things muskies haven’t seen…

RUN!  It’s outside running season (finally – goodbye treadmill!) and as you know we like to sneak in a little outdoor exercise from time to time on the Edge.  Whether it’s hiking, biking or running, spring is one of the best times to hit the pavement or the trail and take in the returning birds,…

JACKED UP. After a little overnight rain, things warm up again during the week.  Speaking of heating up, the spring fishing is getting hot and getting on those pre-spawn walleyes is becoming a fast reality as reports of big fish are coming in from all over the Missouri River system already.  Get out there and…

MOP UP MONDAY.  Time to wash down the landscape with a quick shot of rain tonight and help spur that field habitat for a new generation of wildlife.  We’ll see anywhere from a quarter to a half-inch of rain in the overnight to help clean up the last of the snow and remove all the…

SUPER SUNDAY. The warmest day yet of this short spring is a perfect one for fishing, shooting sports, a quick run or a long bike ride.  Take advantage of the great opportunity to get back outdoors!  We go potpourri in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: A tom turkey struts atop a hill near Washburn as…

SPRING IS HERE!  Welcome to the weekend – and a gorgeous one at that!  After suffering through seven weeks of sub-average temperatures, things are aligning for a great couple of days (maybe weeks?) outside.  So turn those honey-dos into honey-dones, and get out there as we take a closer look at what’s ahead in today’s…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. I drove by a bald eagle nest the other day, and then another and another. It wasn’t my intention as it was actually a route I drive on a pretty regular basis. I’ve known about all three of these nests for a number of years, and there is only about…

WARMING UP.  Temperatures continue their climb into more seasonal conditions, and animal activity, including that of area turkey populations is increasing with the onset of the first warm stretch of spring.  We talk about those groups and more in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: A trio of turkeys explore a field edge along Highway…

NDG&F Press Release Hunter success during last fall’s pronghorn hunting season was 75 percent, according to statistics provided by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Game and Fish issued 410 licenses (255 lottery and 155 gratis), and 366 hunters took 275 pronghorn, consisting of 264 bucks, 10 does and one fawn. Each hunter spent…