Dakota Edge Outdoors

12/13/2025

Nick catches up with Calvin Clauson of Scheels on what lures, augers, sonar and other ice fishing gear are flying off the shelves as the season gets going in this week's installment of Our Outdoors Radio.

12/13/2025

River Otter Trapping Season Ends with Quota Met

Nick Simonson By Nick Simonson With the thirtieth animal taken, this year’s river otter trapping season has come to a close for resident trappers in North Dakota. Many people aren’t aware of the riverine mammal’s presence in the state, and fewer still know of the trapping season which has been in effect since 2017. Nevertheless, these unique creatures remain part of the hunting, fishing and trapping calendar in the Peace Garden State, and are relatively stable with a consistently completed season, according to Stephanie Tucker, Game Management Section Leader and Furbearer Biologist with the North Dakota Game & Fish Department (NDG&F)....

Nick Simonson By Nick Simonson With the thirtieth animal taken, this year’s river otter trapping season has come to a close for resident trappers in North Dakota. Many people aren’t aware of the r…

12/12/2025

Nick previews the chilly, ice-making weekend of Dec. 12-14 and catches up with Furbearer Biologist Stephanie Tucker of the NDG&F Department for more on the short 2025 river otter trapping season and the status of the riverine mammals in the state.

12/12/2025

On Ice Safety Reminders

Doug Leier By Doug Leier As much as we look forward to it each year, early ice season always brings a mix of excitement and concern. The excitement is understandable. For many North Dakotans, there’s something about that first layer of ice stretching across a favorite slough or lake that gets the blood pumping. Anglers start texting buddies, checking gear, and making weekend plans....

Doug Leier By Doug Leier As much as we look forward to it each year, early ice season always brings a mix of excitement and concern. The excitement is understandable. For many North Dakotans, there…

12/12/2025

Stop Spinning Out

By Nick Simonson Whether it’s hitting an icy road as the winter driving season gets underway or laying in bed after staying too long at the office holiday party the night before, the spins are never a good thing. They’re even worse when you’re pursuing your favorite fish at first ice, as a twisting, turning lure making a full 360-degree spin is about the most unnatural presentation one can throw at a wary walleye or a discerning bluegill. ...

By Nick Simonson Whether it’s hitting an icy road as the winter driving season gets underway or laying in bed after staying too long at the office holiday party the night before, the spins are neve…

12/12/2025

G&F Reminders on Fish Houses

NDG&F Release Any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made of materials that allow it to float. In addition, fish houses do not require a license. Other fish house regulations include: Occupied structures do not require identification. However, any unoccupied fish house must have an equipment registration number issued by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, or the owner’s name, and either an address or telephone number, displayed on its outside in readily distinguishable characters at least 3 inches high....

NDG&F Release Any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made of materials that allow it to float. In addition, fish houses do not require a license. Other fish house regulat…

12/12/2025

Our Outdoors: Advanced Tip-Up Tips

Nick Simonson By Nick Simonson As early ice settles in across the region and anglers take their first tentative steps out onto their favorite waters, the excitement builds for a season full of fast action, especially at the outset when fish are most aggressive under the frozen surface. From lakes teeming with walleyes to those prairie sloughs packed with plentiful pike, a solid part of any angler’s arsenal is the tip-up. ...

Nick Simonson By Nick Simonson As early ice settles in across the region and anglers take their first tentative steps out onto their favorite waters, the excitement builds for a season full of fast…

12/05/2025

Tips for Thickening Up

Nick Simonson By Nick Simonson One of my favorite outdoor competitions – beyond the Bassmasters Classic, those old late night Lumberjack Games on ESPN Ocho, and any local ice fishing derby that boasts a good meal and warm social afterward – is the Fat Bear Week hosted online by the Katmai National Park and its supporters. The organization selects 32 huge Alaskan brown bears in the park each year; specimens that are known to put on over 500 pounds from summer into fall pushing many of them to over a half a ton in weight, thanks to a diet which can include more than 100 pounds of salmon in a day....

Nick Simonson By Nick Simonson One of my favorite outdoor competitions – beyond the Bassmasters Classic, those old late night Lumberjack Games on ESPN Ocho, and any local ice fishing derby that boa…

12/04/2025

Darkhouse Spearing Stands Out in ND

Doug Leier By Doug Leier What makes darkhouse spearfishing stand out from other types of fishing, especially in the winter? Is it more challenging? Absolutely. Does it bring a unique kind of success and satisfaction? No doubt about it. Fishing in winter already comes with its own set of challenges. Unlike summer, where your biggest travel issue might be some road construction, winter adds icy roads, snowdrifts, and near-zero visibility into the mix....

Doug Leier By Doug Leier   What makes darkhouse spearfishing stand out from other types of fishing, especially in the winter?  Is it more challenging? Absolutely. Does it bring a uni…

12/04/2025

Weekender’s Edge for 12.5 – Cayla Bendel on HuntLink

Nick previews the first weekend of December and some good ice making conditions while catching up with Cayla Bendel, NDG&F R3 Coordinator with the details on the agency's new HuntLink program.

Nick previews the first weekend of December and some good ice making conditions while catching up with Cayla Bendel, NDG&F R3 Coordinator with the details on the agency’s new HuntLink pro…

12/04/2025

DL Walleye Populations Up for Ice Season

By Nick Simonson With a year of record-level reproduction for walleyes on Devils Lake, and abundant year classes presenting fish from that young-of-the-year slot on up to those eater sized ‘eyes in the 15-to-20 inch range, the sprawling water is primed for a good ice fishing season, according to Bryan Sea, North Dakota Game & Fish Department (NDG&F) Fisheries Supervisor for the Northeastern District....

By Nick Simonson With a year of record-level reproduction for walleyes on Devils Lake, and abundant year classes presenting fish from that young-of-the-year slot on up to those eater sized ‘eyes in…

12/04/2025

G&F Launches HuntLink Pilot

NDG&F Dept. Release HuntLink is a new, voluntary program designed to help North Dakota landowners easily connect with hunters and trappers. The program offers a simple way to allow managed access for antlerless deer, coyotes, turkeys, and other species. For landowners experiencing wildlife depredation or looking for additional management tools, HuntLink can help. Landowners can enroll through their North Dakota Game and Fish…...

NDG&F Dept. Release HuntLink is a new, voluntary program designed to help North Dakota landowners easily connect with hunters and trappers. The program offers a simple way to allow managed…