The Dakotan: This is Outdoor Issues with Neil Roberts and North Dakota Game and Fish Outreach biologist Greg Gullickson. Neil Roberts: Our recent storms have been a mixed blessing. Greg On one hand, some much needed moisture for farmers and ranchers, but on the other, it's pushing back, planting and the boating season to probably a pretty good degree, right? Greg Gullickson: Yeah, I would agree. And one of the things living and working on a minor and being involved on at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds, those buildings out there during the off season during the wintertime are packed full of boats and campers and pontoons and all sorts of recreational equipment, seasonal equipment. And even about three weeks ago, they started moving some of that equipment on people starting to pick it up and get ready for that summer boating season. Greg Gullickson: In fact, myself, I've put away the ice auger and we get temperature swings and things that are happening and even getting access to where we store our boat is a little bit tricky. And now's the time, though. You can still be getting the tackle box ready. It's going to take a little bit to get some of these roads and access points open, but spring is right around the corner, and pretty soon for those of us out in the fishing boats will be able to hear those waves slapping against the side of the boat. Neil Roberts: All right, sounds good. Greg and hey we'll talk departmental Springs Work when we come back. The Dakotan: You're listening to Outdoor Issues with Neil Roberts on the Dakotan Network. Neil Roberts: Talking recent storms and how it has affected the calendar here in North Dakota. And Greg, your department is going to have to hit the reset button on several spring jobs as well, right? Greg Gullickson: Yeah, that's right. And probably one of the more important ones is our spring spawning operations in North Dakota. We do have some natural reproduction, but the state really relies on our fisheries crews getting out there and actually spawning those fish. So going out, netting them and then moving the eggs back to the fish hatchery, getting them fertilized and getting the ball rolling to restock and put more fish in some of our North Dakota waters. Neil Roberts: All right. Good stuff, Greg. And that'll do it for this report. Until next time. I'm Neil Roberts. The Dakotan: You're listening to the Dakotan Network. Real, Honest, Local News.
