Outdoors Notebook: North Dakota free ice fishing weekend set for Dec. 30-31
Dec. 21—BISMARCK — North Dakota's free ice fishing weekend is Saturday, Dec. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 31, the Game and Fish Department said in a news release. Resident anglers may fish those two days without a license. All other winter fishing regulations apply.
The weekend provides a great opportunity to try ice fishing for the first time or
take someone new
. Share your story with the Game and Fish Department for a chance to win a fish house.
— staff report
BISMARCK — A bill to authorize $3 million annually to enhance duck production in the Prairie Pothole Region through the installation and maintenance of hen houses and to develop nesting and brood habitat in California was introduced Thursday, Dec. 21, in Congress.
H.R. 6854 — The Habitat Enhancement Now, or HEN Act — was put forward by Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minnesota; Rep. Mike Thompson, D-California; and Rep. Douglas LaMalfa, R-California.
"We sincerely appreciate the leadership of (Reps. Fischbach, Thompson and LaMalfa) to invest in tools that can significantly boost duck production," Scott Petrie, chief executive officer of Delta Waterfowl, said in a statement. "The science of breeding ducks has shown that nest success is often far below desired levels in the prairies and brood habitat is limiting production in California. This legislation will create an incremental funding stream to address those challenges head on."
Decades of research and use have proven that hen house nesting structures cost-effectively increase mallard nest success by keeping the hen and her clutch of eggs out of reach of mammalian nest predators. On the prairies, mallards consistently use hen houses at high rates, and experience up to 12 times more nest success over mallards that nest in nearby upland grass cover, according to Delta Waterfowl.
"We believe this additional investment will complement the significant investment that federal, state, provincial agencies and nonprofit conservation partners are making in habitat conservation every day," said John Devney, chief policy officer for Delta Waterfowl. "The HEN Act will provide resources to deliver proven duck production tools with meaningful benefits to duck hunters across the continent. This legislation is great news for duck hunters everywhere."
— staff report
BISMARCK — Individuals required to possess a valid fishing license (age 16 and older) to darkhouse spearfish in North Dakota
must first register
on the Game and Fish Department website,
.
Darkhouse spearing is allowed for all anglers with a valid fishing license and for youth under age 16.
Northern pike and nongame fish are the only legal species statewide, while walleye can be speared on Stump Lake and the Devils Lake complex south of U.S. Highway 2 and the Missouri River System (including lakes Oahe and Sakakawea and the Missouri River) up to the first tributary bridge.
Spearers and anglers are reminded that materials used to mark holes must be in possession as soon as a hole greater than 10 inches in diameter is made in the ice.
All waters open to hook and line fishing are open to darkhouse spearing except:
* East Park Lake, West Park Lake, Lake Audubon — McLean County.
* Heckers Lake — Sheridan County.
* Lake Ashtabula — Barnes and Griggs counties.
* Larimore Dam — Grand Forks County.
* McClusky Canal.
* New Johns Lake — Burleigh County.
* Red Willow Lake — Griggs County.
* Whitman Dam — Nelson County.
* Wood Lake — Benson County.
Anglers and spearers should refer to the
2022-24 North Dakota Fishing Guide
for more information.
— staff report
BISMARCK — Any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made of materials that allow it to float, the Game and Fish Department said in a reminder. In addition, fish houses do not require a license.
Other fish house regulations include:
* Occupied structures do not require identification. However, any unoccupied fish house must have an
equipment registration number
issued by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, or the owner's name, and either an address or telephone number, displayed on its outside in readily distinguishable characters at least 3 inches high.
* Fish houses may not be placed closer than 50 feet in any direction to another house without consent of the occupant of the other fish house.
* All unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters after midnight, March 15.
Anglers should refer to the
North Dakota 2022-24 Fishing Guide
for other winter fishing regulations.
— staff report
