A boat ramp and off-road parking area for anglers at Antelope Lake in southwestern Pierce County could become a reality sometime next year as landowners, state and county officials and the nearby Anamoose Wildlife Club work to develop better access to the lake that is gaining a reputation for good walleye fishing.

Pierce County landowners, the Pierce County Water Resource Board, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and members of the Anamoose Wildlife Club met earlier this spring with the Upper Dakota Resource Conservation and Development Council. Allan Pfliger, RC&D coodinator, said the meeting with the parties was to discuss developing a proper boat access site at the lake as well as to determine if there is interest in a group willing to take on the project and eventually manage the site which would include a dock, ramp, launching area and parking.

N.D. Game and Fish has stocked walleye at the late located about 10 miles northeast of Anamoose, and the number of anglers is growing. Unfortunately, boats are launched awkwardly from the road and other sites along the lake, and there is no off-road parking. Oftentimes, vehicles line the county road, causing traffic congestion for farmers moving machinery in the area. Pfliger said at one time it was reported there were 37 fishing rigs parked on roads near the lake.

RC&D’s role is to be a facilitator in the planning. A number of steps must be followed for the project to take shape. A landowner would need to allow an easement for the boat ramp and parking, proper design and construction of a boat ramp; and a management agreement with a sportsman’s club signed.

Those stipulations by the N.D. Game and Fish are coming together, and possible locations for a launch location are being explored. Visits by landowners and representatives from the county and Anamoose Wildlife Club at the lake have been conducted, Pfliger said. Recently, the N.D. Game and Fish placed a dock at the popular launching site.

Pfliger acknowledged county officials have been receptive to calls to improve access to the lake for fishing and recreation use, but also want to insure the concerns of nearby landowners and those who use roads nearby are addressed.

Pierce County Commissioners are expected to discuss the proposed project at a future meeting. Members of the county’s water resource board is also going to discuss the project.