Outdoors Weekly News Archive

July 24, 2009 - FROM THE DAKOTAS

Game and Fish Monitors Waters for ANS

Find a place to fish

By Doug Leier

Anglers looking for a new spot to catch a fish have several tools at their disposal. Thanks to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, www.gf.nd.gov, anglers can quickly access a roster of the state’s fishing lakes, complete with species present, facilities available and directions from the nearest town.

I'll hold fast and hard to what remains of summer.

The days are more than a month into the shortening phase, the 4th of July is a memory, and we're just a few weeks away from the Aug. 15 early goose opener. Kids are beginning to prepare for fall sports practice.

OK, I'll stop pointing out the indicators that summer is on the short end of the stick and relate that there's still plenty of opportunity to enjoy fishing, boating and anything else that involves soaking up the sun outdoors. For the past few years through late July and early August, I've made a point to make a cast in a place, spot, lake or river I had not previously tried. It's almost like adding a dash of hunting into my fishing, by hunting for a new spot to wet a line and drown a few worms.

At times I've stopped at a shorefishing spot that I've driven past for years, or an out-of-the-way small pond as part of forcing myself outside the routine.

Not that there's anything wrong with faithfulness to a particular water. By all means, if you've found a sweet spot that makes you want to return in short order, I'd hate to be the reason you broke the mold.

But at the same time, even with a just short of 300 managed fisheries in North Dakota, the thousands of miles of shoreline provide endless possibilities to expand your fishing horizons. Who knows, maybe you'll find a new spot, or experience a day trip that may never be duplicated.

Wandering aimlessly is fine for me. Coming home out of worms and without a fish to fry? I've done that more often than not, and it'll never deter me from heading back out.
Anglers looking for a new spot to catch a fish have several tools at their disposal.

Thanks to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, www.gf.nd.gov, anglers can quickly access a roster of the state’s fishing lakes, complete with species present, facilities available and directions from the nearest town.

In addition, many lakes are stocked with various fish species and the website has a record of previous stockings.

So, from Divide County to Richland, and Bowman County to Pembina, if a lake has fish, anglers can find out what type, and how old they might be. If you feel like staying in a particular county, you can find out if other waters are nearby. Think of it like a building your own pizza. You can pick an area, fish species and type of water – big, small, lake or river – to try out fishing.

The website also has free contour maps of most waters available for printing. These contour maps are offered to anglers as a viable means to preview fishing waters and also scout out possible structure. They also feature board ramps, picnic areas, restroom facilities and fishing piers, which anglers of all walks of life can appreciate.

While some anglers prefer to seek out their own hot spots without using these conveniences, most appreciate these time savers. Who wants to spend time walking the shoreline to find a bank fishing spot when a quick look at a contour map will point out a nice fishing pier on the other side of the lake.

Summer never seems long enough, and there's an endless list of people and places to visit. While everyone has old standbys that have earned a spot on your list of favorites, remember the next new favorite spot might just few a minutes or clicks of the mouse away.

Leier is a biologist with the Game and Fish Department. He can be reached by email: dleier@nd.gov

Game and Fish Monitors Waters for ANS

North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries personnel will continue to monitor waters throughout the state this summer for aquatic nuisance species. Lynn Schlueter, ANS coordinator, said efforts will focus on waters with a history of high use.

“Much of our time will be centered on favorite destinations of out-of-state anglers,” Schlueter said. “However if time allows we will survey secondary water bodies, including large wetlands often used as a source of fathead minnows by bait vendors.”

During a recent inspection of water areas north of Valley City, a fisheries crew found a few curly leaf pondweed plants in Lake Ashtabula. “This does not come as a total surprise since curly leaf was found in the Sheyenne River downstream in recent years,” Schlueter said. “Even though only a few plants were found, it takes only one tiny fragment to grow into a plant and infest another water body.”

Schlueter said identifying ANS infestations is the first step in preventing their spread. “Prevention is much easier and cheaper than dealing with another infestation,” he added. “An infestation can eventually ruin angling and impair recreational boating opportunities.”

Anglers and other water recreationists are reminded that ANS can be transported from lake-to-lake by boats, trailers and other recreational equipment.

Detailed ANS information and prevention regulations can be found in the 2008-10 North Dakota Fishing Guide, or by accessing the Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov.