Game and Fish Removes Oahe WMA
Ban on Open Fires
The North Dakota Game and Fish
Department has removed the open fire ban on the Oahe Wildlife
Management Area effective immediately, according to Jeb Williams,
wildlife resource management supervisor.
“We have seen a significant
green-up in this area as a result of recent rains,” Williams said.
“Right now we are less concerned with fuel loads in that area.”
Open fires, including campfires,
were prohibited this spring on Game and Fish managed property
south of Bismarck and Mandan along both sides of the Missouri
River.
“In March and April of each year,
because these woodlands are exceptionally prone to wildfires prior
to spring green-up, the Game and Fish Department bans open fires
due to the combination of high use by recreationists and heavy
vegetative fuel loads,” Williams said.
Oahe WMA covers more than 16,000
acres along Lake Oahe south of Bismarck-Mandan, in portions of
Burleigh, Emmons and Morton counties.
Baitfish Regulations, Import
Restrictions Warrant a Look
North Dakota anglers should be
aware of regulations regarding live baitfish, and restrictions on
importing baitfish into North Dakota.
Fathead minnows, creek chubs,
spottail shiners and sticklebacks are the only legal live baitfish
that can be used in most North Dakota waters. The only exception
for waters that allow live baitfish is the Red River, where white
suckers may also be used. In addition, in 20 state waters it is
illegal to use any live baitfish.
Anglers are urged to buy bait
from a licensed retail bait vendor. Because it is sometimes hard
to identify bait fish species due to their small size, bait
vendors inspect bait and can properly identify the species.
Using game fish or parts of game
fish as bait is illegal, except for perch eyes, and trout and
salmon eggs.
Anglers should also note
restrictions on importing live baitfish or other live bait into
North Dakota. This includes minnows and other live baitfish,
worms, night crawlers, wax worms, leeches and insects.
Anglers who want to import or
bring live bait into the state must obtain a valid North Dakota
bait vendor’s license. Otherwise, anglers must purchase all live
bait in North Dakota. The purpose of this regulation, implemented
in 2002, is to provide better control against unintentional
introduction of aquatic nuisance species.
For more information anglers
should refer to the 2006-08 North Dakota Fishing Guide, available
at license vendors or online at the state Game and Fish Department
website, gf.nd.gov.
Biologists Tagging Walleye at
Devils Lake, Anglers Should Report Fish
The North Dakota Game and Fish
Department has initiated a walleye tagging project this spring at
Devils Lake. The project will provide information on walleye
movements, total fish mortality between years, angling mortality
rates and differences in mortality rates between sexes.
This is the first of four
consecutive years biologists will tag 1,000 walleye at Devils
Lake, according to Randy Hiltner, northeast district fisheries
supervisor. “Anglers are asked to treat tagged walleye just like
those that do not have a tag,” he said. “Meaning, it is important
that anglers harvest fish they normally would harvest, and release
fish they normally would release.”
Tags are orange and attached by
wire to the top of the fish. The tag does not need to be sent in,
just the information: tag number, kept or released, date caught,
length, location, and angler’s name and address.
“It is important to report tagged
fish,” Hiltner said. “The more tag reports we receive, the better
the information will be for this research project.”
Tagged fish information can be
reported by several methods. Anglers can bring in the information
or call the Devils Lake Game and Fish office at 662-3617. Also,
tag return cards can be filled out at bait shops around the lake,
or reported online at the Game and Fish Department website,
gf.nd.gov.
A follow-up letter will be sent
to the angler with information such as when and where the fish was
tagged, and fish length at the time it was tagged.
