Fish removed from Patterson

North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries personnel have applied a chemical to eradicate fish from Patterson Lake and will begin stocking efforts with preferred species next year, according to Jeff Hendrickson, southwest district fisheries supervisor.

More than 5,000 pounds of fish, mostly carp, were cleaned up by volunteers Nov. 14. Since then, many more continue to surface and drift toward shore. Rotenone, the chemical used to eradicate the fish, remains active in the water for several days before it breaks down naturally.

Hendrickson said the plan is to manage the lake as a walleye-crappie fishery. "Our hope is that a decent sport fishery could be established in just a few years," he said.

The extreme winter of 2008-09 resulted in a significant fish kill at Patterson Lake, located two miles west of Dickinson in Stark County. Spring and summer netting assessments indicated that virtually all of the game fish were killed.

"The final outcome of the eradication project will not be known for sure until next spring, but it appears successful," Hendrickson said.

Darkhouse fishing registration needed

All individuals who participate in darkhouse spearfishing must register with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department prior to participating. Registration is available at the department's Web site, http://gf.nd.gov, or through any Game and Fish Department office.

North Dakota's darkhouse spearfishing season opens on most state waters Tuesday, with the exception of Spiritwood Lake which opens Jan. 1. The season extends through March 15. Legal fish are northern pike and nongame species.

Darkhouse spearing is allowed for all residents with a valid fishing license and for residents under the age of 16. Nonresidents may darkhouse spearfish in North Dakota if they are from states that offer the same privilege for North Dakota residents. Minnesota was recently added to the list of states that allow nonresidents to darkhouse spearfish.

Last year, nearly 1,400 anglers registered to darkhouse spearfish. More than 700 participated, spearing more than 5,000 northern pike. Island Lake (Rolette County), Devils Lake (Ramsey/Benson County) and Morrison Lake (Ramsey County) were the top three lakes for harvest.

Anglers should take note that some darkhouse spearfishing lakes suffered winterkill in 2008-09. These lakes may not have a viable pike population this winter, and will take two to three years before they produce catchable pike.

Lakes open to darkhouse spearing are: Barnes County - Eckelson Lake Complex; Benson County - Devils Lake; Silver Lake; Bowman County - Gascoyne Lake (winterkill); Kalina Dam; Spring Lake; Burke County - Powers Lake; Emmons County - Rice Lake; Foster County - Juanita Lake; Grant County - Heart Butte Reservoir (Lake Tschida); Griggs County - Sibley Lake; Hettinger County - Blickensderfer Dam; Kidder County - Alkaline Lake, Cherry Lake (winterkill), Etta/Alkaline Complex, Helen Lake, Horsehead Lake, Lake Josephine, Lake Williams, Round Lake; LaMoure County - Diamond Lake, Flood Lake; Logan County - Beaver Lake (winterkill); McHenry County - Buffalo Lodge Lake; McIntosh County - Clear Lake, Coldwater Lake, Dry/Goose Lake; McLean County - Crooked Lake (winterkill), Long Lake; Mountrail County -Stanley Reservoir (winterkill); Nelson County -Lake Laretta, Stump Lake; Ramsey County -Cavanaugh Lake, Devils Lake, Lake Irvine, Morrison Lake, Sweetwater Lake; Renville County -Lake Darling; Richland County -Grass Lake; Rolette County -Carpenter Lake, Island Lake (winterkill), School Section Lake (winterkill); Sargent County -Buffalo Lake; Stark County -Patterson Lake (Dickinson Reservoir) (winterkill); Steele County -North Tobiason Lake; Sheridan County -Coal Mine Lake (winterkill); Stutsman County - Mallard Marsh, Spiritwood Lake, Sunday Lake; Williams County - Cottonwood Lake, Tioga Reservoir (winterkill); Lake Sakakawea from Garrison Dam to U.S. Highway 85 bridge at Williston and all tributaries upstream to the first vehicular crossing, Lake Oahe from the South Dakota border to MacLean Bottoms boat ramp and all tributaries upstream to the first vehicular crossing.Audubon field guides go mobile

The series of National Audubon Society field guide books have gone mobile, putting birding information at the fingertips of iPhone and iPod Touch users.

The Audubon Guide bird app covers more than 740 species of birds with information on appearance, habitat, behavior, diet, nesting, mating, migration, endangered status and more.

Search parameters include common and scientific names, family, shape, range, habitat, color, and size.

The apps' geo-location search features also allow users to find which bird species are located in any ZIP code, state or region.

Three additional apps in the Audubon Guide series - Wildflowers, Trees and Mammals - also are available.

 

Fox Island Boat Ramp reopens

The construction project at the Fox Island Boat Ramp has been completed and the ramp is now open.

The ramp on the Bismarck side of the Missouri River was the last in line of ramps from Cross Ranch south to be reconstructed with costs of the projects shared between the Game and Fish Department and local counties and park boards.

The new ramp is 35 feet wide and is sloped and graded to better assist boaters in loading and unloading their boats.