North Dakota
North Dakota Game and Fish to stock adult yellow perch into Devils Lake next spring
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is planning to stock adult yellow perch into Devils Lake next spring as part of a “trap-and-transport” effort to boost populations of the tasty panfish, which are a popular draw for anglers on the big lake, especially in the winter.
According to Greg Power, fisheries chief for Game and Fish in Bismarck, moving egg-laden adult perch from lakes with too many stunted fish has worked well in creating new perch fisheries in small prairie lakes, but has rarely been tried on a scale as large as Devils Lake.
Contributed / North Dakota Game and Fish Department
The window of opportunity isn’t open very long; perch are early spawners.
“The critical thing is to get the nets in (the water) right at ice out, and move them to the new lakes before they spawn,” Power said. “That really has provided tremendous dividends.”
Less successful, he says, has been stocking adult perch into lakes with already established populations.
“The results of that are a little more mixed,” Power said.
The upcoming trap-and-transport effort comes on the heels of a perch population that has lagged behind historic averages the past couple of years. Based on results from Game and Fish summer netting surveys, Devils Lake perch numbers have declined from 18.3 fish per net in 2021 to 8.8 fish per net in 2024. Much of that, Power says, is due to the cyclical nature of perch reproduction specifically and fish populations in general.
“Every prairie lake out there for every species, it’s all about ebbs and flows, peaks and valleys, and that’s certainly been the case at Devils Lake,” Power said. “Is it that bad right now? No – I mean, the last two years, it’s been below the long-term average.
“If you go back just four or five years ago, it was above it considerably.”
Game and Fish personnel, including department Director Jeb Williams, met with Devils Lake tourism interests over the summer to talk about the status of the perch fishery.
“The locals there at Devils Lake – in particular the guides and outfitters, but I think anybody that likes perch fishing – are concerned with where we’re going with the population,” Power said. “They requested us to do something more, so we’re going to re-look at moving adult perch into Devils Lake next spring.”
Brad Dokken / Grand Forks Herald file photo
Mark Bry, a Devils Lake fishing guide and owner of Bry’s Guide Service, participated in the meetings last summer and said the Game and Fish Department’s willingness to stock adult perch was appreciated.
“We’re just trying to stay proactive,” Bry said. “I’ve learned a lot about perch in the last five-six months. The numbers are probably not as strong as they have been, but I think this is fairly common. A couple of years ago, we had really good perch fishing – 12- to 13-inch perch were kind of everywhere. We still have some big perch in the system, but I think they just want to try and enhance it a little bit more.”
Perch favor flooded vegetation for spawning, and when the wet cycle that raised Devils Lake by upwards of 20 feet began in 1993, the influx of water created ideal spawning conditions, Power said.
“What we got was just tremendous back to back to back year-classes of perch, which is very atypical, but that’s what happened,” he said. As lake levels stabilized and began declining, quality perch spawning habitat also became less abundant.
“Occasionally, we get a decent – maybe not a great, but a decent – year-class,” Power said. “It helps sustain a fishery for a while, then it falls off. And the last year or two, it’s been falling off.”
Contributed / North Dakota Game and Fish Department
As part of the upcoming stocking effort, department fisheries crews also plan to tag perch next spring in Devils Lake, Power said.
“We’re going to come up with a population estimate if we can get enough fish, to know where we sit for a while, and whether or not we’re adding enough (prespawn) fish to make a difference,” Power said. “Then we’ll monitor that for a few years thereafter.
“That population estimate is going to be critical to see where we’re sitting exactly for what’s out there and how much (stocking) can help this along.”
Still to be determined, he says, is where the adult perch being moved to Devils Lake will come from and how many fish Game and Fish crews can collect. Reproduction in many perch lakes across the state has declined, Power said, along with water levels in many of the new prairie lakes.
“To be honest, it’s going to be a lot more challenging for us to move enough perch because we just don’t have as many sources as we once had,” Power said. “It was pretty easy when we had a lot of perch lakes to move perch. It’s tougher now; we just don’t have surplus perch like we did 15 years ago.
“I think we’ll find a few lakes (from which) we can move fish, see if they can bring off a year-class and probably do that for a few years.”
Also on tap is a plan to raise the white bass limit from the current limit of 20 daily and 40 in possession to 30 daily and 60 in possession.
“We’re at a point where we can increase our white bass daily limit to more than what it is,” Power said. “There’s probably some interaction with perch and white bass predation (and) competition, but that might help a little bit.”
Walleyes are by far the most abundant species in the Game and Fish test nets, routinely accounting for upwards of 50% of the total catch.
“They’re going to have to balance walleye stocking, too,” Power said. “Walleye obviously are a predator. In the end, everybody wants the same thing – more walleye, more perch, big perch, big walleye; it just doesn’t happen that way.”
With stocking on the horizon, the 2025 perch hatch on Devils Lake also looks promising, Power says. Spring conditions “weren’t anything outstanding,” he says, but Devils Lake fisheries crews tallied a “respectable” perch hatch in 2025, based on results from the department’s annual young-of-the-year fish survey.
If those young perch make it through the winter, they could provide a natural boost to the population in a few years.
“I think we’ll be good,” said Bry, of Bry’s Guide Service. “Not every year can be a home run, and I think that’s just the thing people need to understand. You may not catch as many perch this winter – and we don’t know that for sure – but I think the future looks pretty good.
“I think it’s just kind of how this goes – the ups and downs of perch cycles; you get a couple of good years and a couple of average years.”
Stocking adult perch into Devils Lake isn’t unprecedented, but it’s been 20 years since the last effort. According to Game and Fish records, adult perch – anywhere from 2,000 to 7,000 – were stocked into Devils Lake in 1970, 1974, 1975, 1978 and 1992, a year when the fisheries crews also stocked 6.7 million perch fry.
More recently, Game and Fish stocked 76,000 adult perch into Devils Lake, along with 110,000 fingerlings, in 2005. That was followed by nearly 1.4 million fingerlings in 2006 and 931,000 fingerlings in 2007.
Contributed / North Dakota Game and Fish Department
The fingerlings stocked during those three years were marked with oxytetracycline, a chemical that shows up in the ear bones when viewed under a microscope, to determine the survival and success of the stocking effort.
“Out of the three years stocked, 2007 produced a year-class that contributed to the fishery in later years,” Power said. “However, the large majority of the 2007 year-class originated from natural reproduction, as only 9% of the fish came from stocking.”
In other words, there are a lot of unknowns with the upcoming adult perch stocking, Power says – especially on a body of water the size of Devils Lake.
“If it was easy, it would have been done a long time ago,” he said. “But we’ll see what we can do.
“And to be fair, the group up there at Devils Lake, they totally understand that. They just would like us to do something, and they recognize there’s absolutely no guarantees.”
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Sports Information)– Fighting Hawk track and field is set to split between California and North Dakota for a pair of meets this week, with competition occurring from Thursday to Saturday for UND.
It all begins out west at the Bryan Clay Multis where action will begin at 1 p.m. CT on both Thursday and Friday in Azusa. The Fighting Hawks overlap on Friday as action kicks up at the NDSU Spring Classic at 1 p.m. CT on Friday and 11 a.m. CT on Saturday in Fargo.
Last Time Out
North Dakota track and field collected four total broken school records over the weekend, with two more coming in Saturday competition as the Fighting Hawks took on two meets out in California
MIKE FANELLI TRACK CLASSIC
Saturday competition began for UND in the women’s 10,000-meter run where Elle Sondag crossed the finish line in 36:28.89 in her event debut to take eighth in section one and finish eighth overall. In the men’s portion of the same event, Ethan Adams finished 23rd in section over for 26th overall behind a PR time of 31:19.28 that now ranks ninth in school history.
In the 800-meter run, Gabriella Ruggeri ran a time of 2:10.65 (PR, fifth all-time) to finish fourth in section four and 25th overall in 21 heats of competing athletes. Aleksa Milanovic represented the men and finished second in section six and 13th overall out of 27 heats of competition with a time of 1:51.63.
Then the history-making turned up a notch. Olivia Correale broke the program record in the women’s mile run with her time of 4:47.47 to take first place overall in the event. And the domination continued in addition to the new school history. Katie Rogers took second in 4:52.51 with the second-best time in UND history as Marie-Louise Jorgensen finished fourth with a time of 4:56.93 in her event debut that now ranks third in the record books. Frida Giersdorff rounded out the speedy performances with her 4:57.59 clocking for seventh place and the fourth-best time at UND.
The men’s mile run race followed with the same kind of headlines as Louis-Lys Fanucchi added to the weekend success. He also broke the men’s mile run record with his time of 4:07.75 as Henrik Lindstrot followed in fifth place with a time of 4:10.97, marking a new PR and the third-best time in school history.
TRITON INVITATIONAL
The throwing results continued for North Dakota in San Diego with Fighting Hawks competing in the shot put and discus throw. Julia Matthews tied her outdoor personal best of 46-4 1/4 (14.13m) in the women’s shot put, which ranks eighth in school history, to finished 13th in the event.
STANFORD INVITATIONAL
Late results from yesterday’s competition at Stanford came in with historical performances for North Dakota on Friday evening.
It all began with Giersdorff besting her own school record by over 12 seconds in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase. She ran a new PR time of 10:06.17 to rewrite history and take seventh place in the event. Over in the men’s half of the event, Fanucchi emerged victories with his clocking of 8:42.15, which marks a new PR and the second-best time in school history. Lindstrot came fifth in 8:49.08 for a new personal best and the third-best time in the UND record books.
Another school record fell in the women’s 10,000-meter where Keeler broke another one of her own top marks. She took fourth overall in the event with her time of 31:56.03, which improves her previous school record by nearly 10 seconds. Her locking now sits as the 20th-fastest time in NCAA history.
In section two of the event, Shewaye Johnson ran a 33:44.70 (PR) for the third-best time in UND history and ninth place. Naja Weiler clocked a 33:51.36 (PR, 13th place), which now sits fourth in school history and marks a new freshman record.
Summit League Accolades
Peak Performer of the Week
– Jadyn Keeler – Women’s Track (April 7)
Fight ‘em Hawks!
The Fighting Hawks have already achieved a plethora of new top-10 indoor marks in program history this season, including four chart-topping school records:
*Olivia Correale – Mile Run (No. 1 – 4:47.47)
*Louis-Lys Fanucchi – Mile Run (No. 1, 4:07.75)
*Frida Giersdorff – 3000-meter Steeplechase (No. 1 – 10:06.17)
*Jadyn Keeler – 10,000-meter Run (No. 1 – 31:56.03)
On Tap
North Dakota track and field will take on a plethora of meets next weekend with the Pacific Coast Invitational, Beach Invitational and Bryan Clay Invitational out in California as well as the Tom Tellez Alumni Invitational in Texas.
For updates and more information on North Dakota track and field, follow on social media @UNDtrackfieldXC or visit FightingHawks.com.
North Dakota
HHS reminds North Dakotans that services and support are available to prevent child abuse during Child Abuse Prevention Month
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is reminding North Dakotans that services are available to strengthen families in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Read the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation.
North Dakota reported 532 confirmed cases of child abuse and/or neglect in calendar year 2025.
“Although even one case is one too many, based on the number of assessments completed, the percentage of confirmed cases remains consistent compared to the previous year,” said HHS Children and Family Services Prevention and Protection Administrator Kirsten Hansen.
To help children and youth remain safely at home, HHS offers FamilyFirst Services, which are designed to strengthen families through support for both children and their parents or caregivers. Services are based on the specific needs of the family and focus on practical support for parents; behavioral health, including both mental health and addiction; and other needs. Visit FamilyFirst Services for more details.
Throughout April, several agencies across North Dakota will be hosting in-person and virtual events in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Visit Families Flourish ND for more information about upcoming events.
April is also a time to remind people that North Dakota has a law that allows parents to turn to approved Baby Safe Haven sites if they are unable to safely care for their infant. Parents can safely surrender an infant up to 1 year of age without fear of prosecution or questions. Infants must be unharmed and given to an on-duty staff member at a hospital or other approved location.
Reporting suspected child abuse or neglect
HHS reminds individuals that if they suspect a child in North Dakota is being abused or neglected, they should call the statewide toll-free Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Line at 1-833-958-3500. If it’s an emergency and a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
Coming into his sophomore season at the University of North Dakota, Mac Swanson was facing more uncertainty than at any point in his young hockey career.
By his own admission, Swanson, 20, struggled at times on the ice as a freshman. And after the 2024-25 season, the Fighting Hawks had replaced their head coach, introducing another variable.
But first-year coach Dane Jackson has now led UND to a 29-9-1 record, and Swanson has added multiple dimensions to his game in his second year of college hockey.
Now Swanson and UND are among the final quartet of teams playing for a national championship this weekend at the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.
The Hawks take on Wisconsin on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Alaska time with a chance to advance to the championship. That game will be preceded at 1 p.m. by the first semifinal, pitting Michigan against Denver, which is coached by Anchorage’s David Carle. Both games are scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN2.
A mainstay on UND’s second line, Swanson has added strength, improved his scoring and taken on more responsibility on defense.
“I felt confident throughout the year,” Swanson said. “My goal-scoring has improve and obviously we have a great team this year. It’s easy to play with those guys.”
When UND announced it was replacing longtime coach Brad Berry, Swanson said players were in a holding pattern. But Jackson, who was on the UND staff for nearly two decades before taking the head coaching role, helped maintain continuity for the players after a couple weeks of wondering who would lead the team.
“There was a lot of uncertainty in the program for the first time in a while,” Swanson said. “It was definitely a weird time for all of us that were kind of deciding whether to stay or transfer out. But when coach Jackson got the job, we all felt pretty confident in him and his abilities, so we really did think that we would have a good team this year.”
Swanson described Jackson as a “hard but fair coach” and said the announcement secured his future with UND.
“I love my time here,” he said. “I love playing at The Ralph (Engelstad Arena), and I didn’t really want to leave at all. So I’m happy with where I’m at.”
Swanson’s production this season has been consistent. He’s seventh on the team in scoring, with 11 goals and 17 assists in 39 games. He showed a major uptick in his goal-scoring ability, after notching just two as a freshman.
Swanson believes his progression at UND is similar to what he was able to accomplish with the Fargo Force, where he played before signing with the Fighting Hawks. There he developed into a much more dynamic offensive player in his second season with the USHL team. Swanson has been especially effective the last half of the season with 13 points in his last 15 games.
“I think (my game) has evolved a little bit,” he said. “I’ve really tried to round out my two-way game. I started penalty killing this year too, which just adds another dimension to my game and makes me more valuable to the team.”
Mac’s dad, Brian, had a standout hockey career at Colorado College and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 1999. Having his dad as a sounding board has been invaluable as he’s progressed through his college career.
“He’s always there for me,” Swanson said. “But he never forces anything upon me, which I think is a good thing. He obviously is there for me whenever I need to talk or just a quick text before or after a game. … It’s great to have someone who’s been through everything I’m going through.”
Part of Swanson’s offseason mandate was to add strength. In Alaska over last summer, he worked out independently as well as at Mac’s Strength & Power in Eagle River, operated by his cousin.
“It gave me a good opportunity to grow in some areas I needed to,” he said.
The Frozen Four is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in recent history. The four teams have the four most NCAA championships in history, led by Denver’s 10 and followed by Michigan (9), UND (8) and Wisconsin (6).
“It’s really cool it’s kind of all these blue-blood programs,” he said. “Obviously we’ll try not to focus on too much of the stuff going on in Vegas and just focus on us.”
UND was dominant in reaching the Frozen Four, winning a pair of games by a combined 8-0 score in the Regional at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He had family in attendance for those games and in the week and a half since has received plenty of messages from friends and family.
“Obviously you feel that support being from Alaska,” he said. “When someone is doing well, everyone is happy for them, which I think’s pretty cool about the hockey community back home.”
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