A big part of it is preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species. “A lot of those lakes we have those regulations on are trout and panfish lakes. Indian Creek is one of those lakes,” Merchant said. “There’s a few lakes where you can’t use live bait fish.

Merchant recommended jigging wraps, small jigs, fathead minnows, wax worms for panfish and smelt (frozen minnow like fish) for pike. Fish and Wildlife Service and the ND Game and Fish. It’s a popular fishing destination in this area,” he added. State Plannin & Division Bismarck, ND nal The attached Environmental Impact. There's walleye, pike, bluegill, crappy and yellow perch. “If you're targeting pike, Lake Tschida (also known as the Heart Butte Reservoir, 15 miles south of Glen Ullin), that one's good for a lot of different species. He said Patterson Lake in Dickinson, Indian Creek near Regent and the Cedar Dam south of New England are good for winter walleye fishing. At most of these lakes, they don't plow any trails,” Merchant said. “It's going to get to a point where you’ll probably need some kind of track vehicle or snowmobile to get out there. The official website also provides guidelines for weight tolerances and a general rule of thumb for ice: two inches - stay off, four inches for walking, six inches for a snowmobile or ATV, 8-12 inches for a car or small pickup and 12-15 inches of good ice for a medium sized pickup truck. Game and Fish officials warn for anglers to beware of ice around partially submerged objects such as trees, brush, embankments or structures as the ice will often not form as quickly near shorelines where the water is shallow or where objects may absorb sunlight.Īccording to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, anglers should always drill test holes or use an ice chisel as they venture onto a lake to help judge the thickness and character of the ice. “The snow on the ice, as it gets deeper throughout the winter, could create some problems where you get all that weight on the ice pushing down and then water can start coming up on top of the ice, creating pressure edge situations.”Īccording to the North Dakota Game & FishĪnglers should look for clear blue ice as that represents new ice - which is stronger than old ice. So there again, it kind of goes back to doing your own checking,” he said.

But that's not necessarily uniform across all the lakes. I've heard reports anywhere from 12 to 14 inches. “Right now the ice is at a pretty good thickness. Hunters who desire to hunt on tribal land will. Merchant emphasized that anglers understand and respect that going out on the ice is never 100% safe, and that outdoor enthusiasts should always exercise caution, regardless of the conditions even hours before. The Nation covers approximately 1.6 million acres and is located in the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. Southwest District Fisheries Biologist Jeff Merchant offered some tips for staying safe and finding the best spots while venturing out onto the ice. In North Dakota, cold weather means even colder fishing. DICKINSON - Cold weather in most places in the United States means putting away the fishing gear and waiting for spring's sweet embrace.

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