*Early* Open water watch 2025?

[SurvivalAmazon88]

Anything open anywhere yet? How's it looking?
Open water doesn't start til April 1st, but just wanted to get a mind of how the places are looking for anyone who has been out.
Thankksssss
I search for a thread on this already but didn't find one so hope this is cool to start. If not, delete my ass and point me in the right direction lol

 

[Fester]

Other then the river i havent seen anything. My guess is it will be a bit for the lakes to open up.

 

[Allen]

Basically, every river below Highway 23 in your area should have open water. Missouri River west of Williston is open. Boating hazards exist, but there are certainly shoreline opportunities in the western and southern parts of the state. Basically, every major creek flowing into Sak should have open water at the mouth of the stream.

 

[NDSportsman]

Anything open anywhere yet? How's it looking?
Open water doesn't start til April 1st, but just wanted to get a mind of how the places are looking for anyone who has been out.
Thankksssss
I search for a thread on this already but didn't find one so hope this is cool to start. If not, delete my ass and point me in the right direction lol

You need a new license April 1st but you can fish year round in ND so if you find open water have at it.

 

[Vollmer]

I'm excited for when watching this matters.

 

[ndfinfan]

I'm excited for when watching this matters.

Me too...sold my Lund Impact, buying a G3 Angler V19SF...joining the Yamaha family!

 

[NDbowman]

Been a long time since I've been there but people used to be fishing off the bridge at the grano crossing on Darling when we were ice fishing. Some lakes have culverts or places where water runs in that can be good early fishing.

 

[Traxion]

Oahe around Mobridge opened up right at town yesterday. Pretty early from my memory. Lots of crappy weather ahead though. Always interesting to see how the bite progresses with early ice off!

 

[lunkerslayer]

The coulee bite north of the feeder lakes are going to dismal this year with little runoff in the devils lake basin.

 

[Griz]

The coulee bite north of the feeder lakes are going to dismal this year with little runoff in the devils lake basin.

That’s a good thing . Maybe there won’t be as many snagged fish taken, and no double dipping by many people who are greedy .

 

[lunkerslayer]

That’s a good thing . Maybe there won’t be as many snagged fish taken, and no double dipping by many people who are greedy .

This will actually hurt devils lake because fish need running water to spawn, this is the reason why many know including myself that devils lake was never really a naturally producing lake for many years. Majority of those females will eventually absorb their eggs because of the lack of run off and it will be seen later when dnr does their annual gill net survey.

 

[Griz]

This will actually hurt devils lake because fish need running water to spawn, this is the reason why many know including myself that devils lake was never really a naturally producing lake for many years. Majority of those females will eventually absorb their eggs because of the lack of run off and it will be seen later when dnr does their annual gill net survey.

You are wrong 100% . While they prefer running water , they lay their eggs in gravel and other substrate . Look it up if you don’t believe it . We will save many egg laying females that would otherwise be taken . Maybe there won’t be as many Wisconsin and Minnesota people here catching, snagging and keeping the best spawners.

 

[lunkerslayer]

You are wrong 100% . While they prefer running water , they lay their eggs in gravel and other substrate . Look it up if you don’t believe it . We will save many egg laying females that would otherwise be taken . Maybe there won’t be as many Wisconsin and Minnesota people here catching, snagging and keeping the best spawners.

The problem is that devils lake as a whole is not an ideal lake to spawn in which is the reason why walleye need running water, a female that doesn't get to just the right type of water temp will not release her eggs and or if she does release her eggs may not have her eggs fertilized by a male. Running water is a trigger for spawning because it brings in water that is ideal temperature for both sexes generating more opportunities for a successful hatch. If you have ever fished devils lake especially during the ice out on the main lake the females eggs are not fully developed yet and probably never will. Regardless if these spawning females are caught or not unless there is plenty of the right conditions they won't release those eggs or they will never get fertilized. Devils lake basin is one giant bowl where the water is deep and takes much longer to warm up if there is no fresh warmer water to spawn. Water temp is key to a good spawn out. I guess we will see what the survey tells us for the 2025 year class

 

[CatDaddy]

The problem is that devils lake as a whole is not an ideal lake to spawn in which is the reason why walleye need running water, a female that doesn't get to just the right type of water temp will not release her eggs and or if she does release her eggs may not have her eggs fertilized by a male. Running water is a trigger for spawning because it brings in water that is ideal temperature for both sexes generating more opportunities for a successful hatch. If you have ever fished devils lake especially during the ice out on the main lake the females eggs are not fully developed yet and probably never will. Regardless if these spawning females are caught or not unless there is plenty of the right conditions they won't release those eggs or they will never get fertilized. Devils lake basin is one giant bowl where the water is deep and takes much longer to warm up if there is no fresh warmer water to spawn. Water temp is key to a good spawn out. I guess we will see what the survey tells us for the 2025 year class

Where do they spawn in the hundreds of lakes with little to no running water?

 

[lunkerslayer]

Where do they spawn in the hundreds of lakes with little to no running water?

Can you give another example of a lake that is a naturally producing lake that has similar characteristics to devils lake? That doesn't rely on stocking each year to keep those walleye population up?

 

[NodakBob]

Before Devils Lake rose 20+ feet 30 years ago the lake was too saline for a lot of natural reproduction…

 

[lunkerslayer]

Before Devils Lake rose 20+ feet 30 years ago the lake was too saline for a lot of natural reproduction…

And that ls why devils lake in those years in abundance stocked perch, northerns and white bass because those species of fish were able to produce in those brackish waters. The plus side of a not having a good hatch is all those females will be able to spawn the next season if the conditions are right.

 

[lunkerslayer]

I could support a resolution on closing north dakota waters based on the amount of run off on any particular year on bodies of water like devils lake. Example would be like last years spring run off which was fantastic for a good hatch basing my opinion on a year like this one where there will be very little run off unless we get a some major snow storms that will be dumping significant precipitation. A year by year study which can only be studied if a season is closed, since its been many years since the dnr has shut down fishing during spawning season. I could be completely wrong since im only referring to devils lake and what i have read during the annual gill net survey based on year classes in relation to that previous year's annual water run off and stocking numbers.

 

[Kurtr]

Can you give another example of a lake that is a naturally producing lake that has similar characteristics to devils lake? That doesn't rely on stocking each year to keep those walleye population up?

Every lake in Ne sodak and se nodak. Waubay specifically in Sodak.

 

[CatDaddy]

Can you give another example of a lake that is a naturally producing lake that has similar characteristics to devils lake? That doesn't rely on stocking each year to keep those walleye population up?

I'm not a fisheries biologist and am not familiar enough to give you specific lakes, but I know they're out there. My research tells me walleye may do better in running water due to constant temp, oxygenation, and water quality, but it's not a requirement for a spawning population.