Advancements Aid C&R Fishing

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. I’ve always preferred simple tackle for fishing – bobbers, jigs, spoons and hooks – though I’m not categorically against using the latest legal tools and technology. I call it low impact angling. Some call it bobbers and worms. Whatever you declare, it’s more about enjoying fish and less about trophy…

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Daily Edge for Wed. June 28

THE THUNDER ROLLS.  Storms pushed through central and southern ND last night, bringing a solid shot of rain to Bismarck and points south, with some severe cells in the mix.  Did you know lightning is so powerful it can send a DeLorean through time?  I’m sure you did.  Did you know it’s more likely to…

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Daily Edge for Tue. June 27

WHAT’S HATCHING?  Pheasants, that’s what!  Great reports are starting to come in around Bismarck of hatching birds, and broods from 3-10 skittery puffballs are being sighted.  Get out on a dewy, calm morning and check the gravel in your area for the next generation of ringnecks!  Enjoy one day of summerlike heat today, as a…

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Nearly Ideal Spring for ND Geese

By Nick Simonson On the heels of the recent North Dakota Game & Fish (NDG&F) Breeding Duck Survey, agents report an almost perfect breeding season for Canada Geese in the state, and hunters once again look forward to a successful early Canada goose hunting season opening in mid-August. “Canada goose populations look like they’re doing…

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Daily Edge for Mon. June 26

CATCHIN’ CRAPPIES, MAKIN’ FRIENDS.  With a warm up, we’re hoping summer – and summer patterns – get back on track soon, particularly with the Independence Day holiday looming.  In the meantime, panfish are usually the first to recover from cooldowns and crappies are starting to move, get ready for the bite with our tips in…

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Daily Edge for Sun. June 25

SUMMER MAKES ITS RETURN!  Calmer, warmer days are ahead – starting today!  Get out there on the back of the new moon and catch some fish.  Even with post-frontal conditions, it should be a great chance to get on the water after a few days of gusty and cool conditions.  We talk geometry, chemistry and…

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Daily Edge for Sat. June 24

HANG ON! Just one more windy day between you and angling bliss! Sunday will be a free-for-all, as the last day of the major moonphase occurs weather conditions will be ideal.  With no rain in the forecast for a few more days, growing drought conditions are a concern, however, good roadside pheasant reports are starting…

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Share The Water This Summer

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. No matter where in North Dakota you call home, finding a place to wet a line or relax on a boating excursion is not too far away. It’s kind of an interesting thought, as the state has more waters than ever to use for all recreation, and we also have more…

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Daily Edge for Fri. June 23

OH, CANADA.  Gusty winds stream in from the northwest as a Canadian high slips down across the border, bringing clear skies and cool temps.  Breezes subside by Sunday, making the back half of the weekend the best portion.  With all this wind, you probably don’t want to be in a tree, but when you are…

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Our Outdoors: Creek Connections

By Nick Simonson The place where running water meets still, or where a smaller trickle joins with a larger one to continue the unending hydrological cycle, is a place where you will find an abundance of fish, along with other wildlife and truly unique species.  Whether it has been in the dark of the midnight…

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Daily Edge for Thu. June 22

BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND.  Winds take hold and drop temperatures over the region, as strong northwesterlies sweep in a good deal of Canadian influence, and not in that good Molson/Tim Horton’s way either.  While we’re well past May, we’re looking ahead to what mayflies bring to fishing – in terms of food, and challenge.  Learn…

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Daily Edge for Wed. June 21

BOOMERS & BASS.  There might be some rumbles of thunder this morning as summer officially sets in – and so do those warm weather patterns.  Look for fish setting up in their summer haunts and apply some of the tips and tactics below to key in on what they want. (Featured Photo: Flies like the…

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Daily Edge for Tue. June 20

SWEET SUMMER. It’s the longest day of the year.  Technically, it’s tied with the other 364 at 24 hours.  Sorry, some sad solstice humor there, but with the official start of summer coming at 11:24PM CT, we’ll max out our daylight hours at nearly 16 straight here in North Dakota. (Featured Photo: Sunrise lights up…

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Daily Edge for Mon. June 19

Temperatures begin to get back to normal and winds die down for a couple of days before dialing it up again for the back half of the week.  Check out today’s Three Things as we talk about one of the worst songs in the wild, a long-running fishing tourney and a fun way to figure…

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Daily Edge for Sun. June 18

Weather conditions shortened the ND Clay Target State Tournament to three rounds on Saturday, but some impressive totals were posted across the board, including a perfect 75 for Seth Jaeger of Rugby High School.  Highlights and results are below as we look ahead to a post-frontal Sunday with northwest winds and highs in the mid-70s…

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Daily Edge for Sat. June 17

Uffda! Saturday might be a struggle with gusty winds and sideways rain and a good chance for storms.  Stare at your tacklebox, or watch the radar and brave the elements from a safe location, but have your post-frontal game face ready as the minor moon phase and easing conditions might allow for an evening trip. …

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Sersha’s Salmon

Friend of the Edge, Adam Sersha of Eveleth, Minn., shares this 36-inch king salmon he caught on a river near Sitka, AK this morning.  With lower flows and clear water, it was easy to see the running fish in the water and made for exciting fights with the kings his group hooked into.  The fish…

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Be Aware of Varying ANS Laws

NDG&F Press Release North Dakota boaters who are traveling to other states or Canadian provinces should check the aquatic nuisance species regulations of their destination to make sure they are in compliance. While many of North Dakota’s ANS prevention regulations are similar to surrounding states and provinces, state Game and Fish Department ANS coordinator Jessica…

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Daily Edge for Fri. June 16

There are some clouds headed our way, and wind and rain too, but don’t get down – the bite will be best right before the worst settles in.  Every touch of gray has a silver lining…or something like that. (Featured Image: Einar Bratteng of Norway with an arctic grayling on the Rolla River.  The last…

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Our Outdoors: When You Know, You Know

By Nick Simonson It was my first trip around the fifty-acre impoundment southeast of town, a traditional decades-ago dam that shunted the water up rills and creek bottoms and turned an old meandering valley into a stockable small reservoir which absorbed some of the local fishing pressure.  Under the rippled gray skies of Sunday morning,…

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Daily Edge for Thu. June 15

A TWEETLE BEETLE PUDDLE PADDLE BATTLE.  For you Fox in Socks fans, check out today’s Three Things as we get down low with some fun beetle facts – from the 59 species that call ND home, to a pattern that keeps the panfish biting – we’ve got all the fun you can pile on six…

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The Best Time to Fish

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. I’m the first to admit I’m not a professional angler. When it comes to tips and tactics on how to land a lunker walleye or fill a stringer in short order, I’ve got more questions than answers. At times, I casually refer to myself as the human cold front because…

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Wildlife Photo Contest Open

NDG&F Press Release The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest is now open, and the deadline for submissions is Oct. 2. The contest has categories for nongame and game species, as well as plants/insects. An overall winning photograph will be chosen, with the number of place winners in each category…

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Daily Edge for Wed. June 14

HERE’S TO MUDDY PAW PRINTS!  Some welcome rain settled the dust down on Tuesday, and a few more follow up showers can be expected today, but it won’t be a wash-out, so get out there if you can – especially early!  If you can “bear” it we’ve got links to a fun story and facts…

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USA Clay Target Eyes International Expansion, National Tournament

By Nick Simonson The USA High School Clay Target League (USA Clay Target), parent organization of the North Dakota State High School Clay Target League and affiliated leagues in 24 states, is looking to expand internationally in the coming seasons, and it’s not just to nearby Canadian provinces either. “We may become international in scope…

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Daily Edge for Tue. June 13

BUST ‘EM!  Clay Target League Championship Week kicked off on Saturday in South Dakota, with Kordell Dehaan (98) and Isabel Myren (93) taking Top Gun Honors for the boys and girls respectively.  Minnesota’s 9-day event started today with over 360 schools and 7,500 participants going head to head for each of the nine classes, and…

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G&F Survey Shows Breeding Duck Numbers Down

NDG&F Press Release The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 70th annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of 2.95 million birds, down 15 percent from last year. Migratory game bird supervisor Mike Szymanski said even though the index is below 3 million for the first time since 1994, it still…

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Daily Edge for Mon. June 12

SNAP. CRACKLE. AND MAKE YOUR LURES POP!  With some small additives, you can amp up your favorite baits for bass, walleyes, pike and more in today’s Three Things.  Watch for a shift in the weather tonight as a low pressure system starts spinning its way up the Great Plains and into Canada.  It looks like…

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