Lake Sakakawea, Devils Lake Support Healthy Fish Populations
North Dakota's two most popular fisheries are delivering good catch rates again this summer, and that's a reflection of healthy game fish populations, according to biologists for the state Game and Fish Department.

At Lake Sakakawea, the state's number one fishery, and at Devils Lake, the number two destination for anglers, biologists found good numbers of most game-fish species during population monitoring efforts in July.

At Sakakawea, biologists conducted their annual netting survey the first couple weeks in July. "This year the lake was netted from White Earth Bay to Snake Creek, and once again, the walleye population is good in Sakakawea," said Jeff Hendrickson, fisheries biologist at Riverdale.

Average length for walleye was 15 inches, with a good number of fish of more than 20 inches. "In recent years natural reproduction has been poor at Sakakawea, but stocking has provided consistent recruitment of walleye," Hendrickson said. "A waning supply of smelt has caused all sport fish to be a little skinnier than normal, but most are still in fairly good condition."

Sauger and northern pike populations remain steady, with average sizes of 12 and 27 inches respectively. While Chinook salmon are not effectively sampled in summer survey efforts, limited angler reports indicate salmon this year are smaller than normal. As August progresses, Hendrickson mentioned, angler effort and interest will increase, along with the catch rate.

"Generally, the Sakakawea fishery is in very good shape, considering lower abundance of smelt, and fishing has been pretty good," Hendrickson said.

At Devils Lake, adult fish population surveys take place in mid-July, with netting sites located lake wide from Pelican Bay in the west to East Devils Lake in the east, according to Randy Hiltner, fisheries biologist, Devils Lake.

"This year, once again, high net catch rates continued for walleye," Hiltner said. The average length for walleye was 14 inches, with many fish from 10-20 inches. "Successful natural reproduction in recent years has provided anglers with consistent recruitment of eater-sized walleye, as well as some larger fish," he said.

Northern pike were also abundant in the netting survey, with an average weight of four and a-half pounds. "Net catch rates and the average weight for pike have been remarkably consistent in recent years," Hiltner said.

A good supply of 12-inch, mid-sized white bass are in the lake, Hiltner said, and anglers have been enjoying good white bass fishing so far this summer.

The yellow perch catch rate was again relatively low. The good news, according to Hiltner, is that yellow perch in the nets were larger, averaging about 10 inches in length. About half the total perch netted were 10-12 inches long, he said, noting that if anglers can find the perch this winter, many will likely be nice-sized fish.

"Generally, the Devils Lake fishery is in very good shape, with only yellow perch at population levels lower than desired," Hiltner said. "Overall, the fishing has been very good this spring and summer."

And that, Hendrickson and Hiltner say, should carry over into fall as well.

Pheasant Crowing Counts Similar to Last Year
The 2005 ring-necked pheasant spring crowing count survey revealed a 5 percent increase statewide in the number of pheasants heard crowing compared to last year, reports Stan Kohn, upland game biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The survey indicated crowing counts are comparable or up in all areas of the state except the far west central and southwestern portion of the state. "Crow count numbers are down in those areas," Kohn said, "but nice increases were noted in the northwest, central and southeast."

Pheasant crowing counts are conducted each spring throughout North Dakota. The index does not measure an entire population density, Kohn said, but is an indicator of the pheasant population trend. Observers drive specified 20-mile routes, stopping at pre-determined intervals, and count the number of pheasant roosters heard crowing during the stop. The information recorded is compared to previous years' data, providing a population trend.

Even though the crowing count indicates an increase in numbers, the fall pheasant population largely depends on reproduction success in late May and early June. "We do not know what affect, if any, the heavy rains in May, June and July may have had on hatching success and brood mortality," Kohn said. "At this point the pheasant brood data is now beginning to come in, and this data will tell us more regarding the outlook for fall pheasant hunting."

Fall Crow Season Opens Aug. 13
North Dakota's fall crow season opens statewide Aug. 13 and continues through Oct. 23.

Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. There is no daily or possession limit on crows.

For more information on the state's small game hunting seasons refer to the North Dakota 2005-06 Small Game Guide.