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Ice Fishing Access Policy on Lake Sakakawea

Licensed, Motorized Vehicles must use existing authorized public roads for entering and leaving ice fishing access areas. If conditions do not allow immediate access onto the ice from the road or ramp, vehicles are permitted to travel along the frozen shoreline within 100 feet of the edge of the ice for a distance not to exceed ¼ mile either direction of the access point. Some public roads often drift closed with snow and will not be plowed open. In these instances, operating a motor vehicle off-road to obtain access is not allowed.
Access areas include:

1. The following main and low water boat ramps and ¼ mile either direction of the boat ramp if feasible: American Legion, Beaver Bay, Beulah Bay, Camp of the Cross, Charging Eagle Bay, Dakota Waters Resort, Deepwater Creek, Deepwater Creek (Game and Fish ramp), Douglas Creek, Douglas Creek (Ziegler’s), Fort Stevenson State Park, Four Bears Park, Garrison Creek Cabin Site, Government Bay, Hazen Bay, Indian Hills, Lewis & Clark Bridge Ramp, Lewis & Clark State Park, Little Beaver Bay, Little Field Bay, Lund’s Landing (Whitetail Bay), McKenzie Bay, Parshall Bay, Pouch Point, Reunion Bay, Sakakawea State Park (Rodeo Bay Ramp), Sanish Bay (Aftem), Skunk Creek, Sportsmen’s Centennial Park, Steinke Bay, Tobacco Garden, Van Hook, White Earth Bay, West Totten Trail, Wolf Creek Recreation Area and Wolf Creek (east ramp).
2. All existing shoreline access areas: Beaver Bay, Beulah Bay, Deadman’s Bay (west Wolf Creek), Deepwater Creek (Fish & Camp Court), Four Bears, Hale Marina, McKenzie Bay, Pebble Beach, Renner Bay, and White Earth.
3. Other access areas: Antelope Creek, Hofflund Bay WMA (east), Lewis & Clark WMA (Magnum Point), Little Egypt, Mouth of Stoney Creek, Red Mike Cabin Site, Reunion Bay (east access), between Long Creek and Chris Creek Cabin Sites, Sakakawea State Park (access road east end of Sakakawea Estates Cabin Area), Sakakawea State Park (Fishing Point), and Wolf Creek (Site 84).
4. Three access areas will be open after January 4th: DeTrobriand Bay (south of Garrison Golf Course), Old Highway 83 North Shore, Old Highway 83 South Shore (use old highway 83 to access) and Deepwater Creek WMA (west portion southwest of Foote’s).

Effective dates – From that period Lake Sakakawea is frozen until April l, 2010 (or thaw, whichever occurs first).

Traveling on the ice on any lake is always hazardous and requires caution and common sense. The Corps of Engineers does not encourage nor recommend driving on the ice at any time. Thin ice or open water may exist near springs and pressure ridges throughout the winter.

Please note the following prohibitions:

* PROHIBITED – Operating motorized vehicles in a negligent manner. This includes, but is not limited to, operating the vehicle in a manner other than transportation directly to and from the lake. Driving away from the shoreline except on authorized public access roads creates unauthorized trails and adversely impacts wildlife habitat and cultural resources.
* PROHIBITED – Collecting, destroying, altering and/or removing vegetation, cultural or other natural resources. Except placing a natural object or a brightly painted or colored wooden lath to mark a hole greater than 10 inches that must be visible from a minimum of 150 feet as required by State Law.
* PROHIBITED – Unattended property (other than unattended ice/fish houses that have the required information based on regulations from the North Dakota Game & Fish Department, i.e. name and address or phone #. In addition they are required to remove fish houses from all waters by midnight March 15th of each year and only can use fish houses after March 15th if they are removed daily as required by state law.

Questions concerning this policy should be directed to Nathan Busche, Park Ranger at 701-654-7411, ext 247.

Todd J. Lindquist
Operations Project Manager

Access Points

1. Lewis & Clark Bridge (boat ramp)
2. Lewis & Clark Wildlife Management Area (Magnum Point)
3. American Legion Park (boat ramp)
4. Mouth of Stoney Creek
5. Between Long Creek and Chris Creek Cabin Sites (Williston Area)
6. Lewis & Clark State Park (boat ramps)
7. Lund’s Landing (White Tail Bay) (boat ramps)
8. Tobacco Garden (boat ramps)
9. Red Mike Cabin Site
10. Little Egypt
11. Hofflund Bay WMA (east)
12. Little Beaver (boat ramps)
13. White Earth (boat ramps and Shoreline Access Area)
14. Antelope Creek
15. North side of Little Knife
16. Sanish Bay (Aftem) (boat ramps)
17. Four Bears Park (boat ramps and Shoreline Access Area)
18. Reunion Bay (boat ramp)
19. Reunion Bay (east access)
20. Pouch Point (boat ramps)
21. Skunk Creek Recreation Area (boat ramps)
22. Little Field Bay (boat ramp)
23. Van Hook (boat ramps)
24. Parshall Bay (boat ramps)
25. Deepwater Creek WMA (west portion southwest of Foote’s) (open after January 4th)
26. Deepwater Creek Recreation Area(Corps ramp)
27. Deepwater Creek (Game and Fish ramp)
28. Deepwater Creek (Fish & Camp Court Shoreline Access Area)
29. Hale Marina (Shoreline Access Area)
30. McKenzie Bay (boat ramps and Shoreline Access Area)
31. Charging Eagle Bay (boat ramps)
32. Indian Hills (boat ramps)
33. Beaver Bay (boat ramps and Shoreline Access Area)
34. Renner Bay (Shoreline Access Area)
35. Dakota Water Resort (boat ramp)
36. Pebble Beach (Shoreline Access Area)
37. Beulah Bay (boat ramp and Shoreline Access Area)
38. Hazen Bay (boat ramps)
39. Sakakawea State Park (access road east end of Sakakawea Estates Cabin Area)
40. Sakakawea State Park (Fishing Point and Rodeo Bay Boat Ramp)
41. Douglas Creek Recreation Area (boat ramps)
42. Douglas Creek (Ziegler’s ramp)
43. Low water access road south of Iglehart’s
44. Camp of the Cross (boat ramp)
45. Garrison Creek Cabin Site (boat ramp)
46. Fort Stevenson State Park (boat ramp)
47. DeTrobriand Bay (south of Garrison Golf Course) (open after January 4th)
48. Steinke Bay (boat ramps)
49. Sportsmen’s Centennial Park (boat ramps)
50. Old Highway 83 North Shore (open after January 4th)
51. Old Highway 83 South Shore – use old highway 83 to access (open after January 4th)
52. Wolf Creek (east ramp)
53. Wolf Creek Recreation Area (Boat Ramp and Site 84)
54. Deadman’s Bay (west Wolf Creek) (Shoreline Access Area)
55. Government Bay (boat ramps)
56. West Totten Trail (boat ramp)

List of Other Access Areas for Ice Fishing in Close Proximity to Lake Sakakawea:

* Little Muddy:
o Little Muddy (Thompson Landing) (boat ramp)
o Mouth of the Little Muddy

* Yellowstone River:
o Lewis & Clark (WMA) West River Access (River Mile 1563.75)
o Lewis & Clark (WMA) Pumphouse
o Trenton Wildlife Management Area (WMA) (Big Timber)

* Lake Audubon:
o 1. Six access points on the Refuge
+ Four along the auto tour route on the south side of Lake Audubon
+ One just north of the McClusky Canal
+ One in the northeast corner of the Refuge
o 2. Five boat ramp areas
+ East Totten Trail
+ Snake Creek Cabin Site
+ 3-mile corner
+ Lane
+ Turtle Lake Ramp

* Spillway Pond:
o Main Boat Ramp


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