The Best Fishing Spots in North Dakota
North Dakota offers excellent recreational fishing on prairie lakes, big reservoirs and the Missouri River, with top targets including walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass; anglers also find trout in some streams and ponds and catfish in larger waters like Lake Sakakawea and Devils Lake. Summer boat and shore fishing are productive for casting and jigging, while winter ice fishing opens up many shallow lakes for panfish and walleye, making the state a year‑round destination for recreational anglers.
Top Cities For Fishing
Lake Fishing
Lake Oahe
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Lake Audubon
Adjacent to Lake Sakakawea, Lake Audubon is known for clear water and strong smallmouth bass and walleye populations; anglers work rocky shorelines, reefs, and humps near Totten Trail and Snake Creek , with summer topwater and finesse tactics especially effective.
Devils Lake
Famous for year-round action, Devils Lake is loaded with walleye, yellow perch, and northern pike; anglers target flooded timber and roadbeds in summer and enjoy stellar ice fishing for jumbo perch and walleyes, with access from areas like Creel Bay and East Bay .
Jamestown Reservoir
This easily accessed reservoir supports walleye, smallmouth bass, crappie, and pike; fish relate to points, riprap, and mid-lake humps, with shore options near Jamestown and productive summer trolling and spring jigging along the original channel.
Lake Ashtabula
A long impoundment on the Sheyenne River , Lake Ashtabula offers consistent walleye, crappie, and northern pike; anglers troll mid-lake structure and pitch jigs to flooded timber and points, with good access at Sibley and Mel Rieman Recreation Area .
Pipestem Lake
Upstream of Jamestown, Pipestem Lake features walleye, crappie, and pike, with anglers focusing on submerged timber, coves, and the river channel; spring jig-and-minnow and summer slip-bobber tactics are popular, with convenient access near Pipestem Dam .
Sheyenne River
Winding through eastern North Dakota, the Sheyenne River provides walleye, northern pike, catfish, and smallmouth bass; fish current seams and outside bends near towns like Valley City and Lisbon , with spring and fall offering the most consistent bite.
Spiritwood Lake
A natural lake east of Jamestown , Spiritwood Lake produces walleyes, smallmouth bass, and perch; work rocky shorelines and steep breaks, with evening crankbait runs in summer and productive first-ice jigging for panfish.
Bowman-Haley Lake
A large southwest reservoir with good numbers of walleye, crappie, and northern pike; anglers troll expansive flats and fish timbered coves, with shore access near Bowman and peak bites during spring and early summer.
Lake Darling
Part of the Souris River system in the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge , Lake Darling offers walleye, northern pike, and yellow perch; anglers work shallow bays and river channels with crankbaits and jigs, with strong bites during spring and fall transitions.
Lake Sakakawea
One of the Midwest’s premier walleye waters, Lake Sakakawea offers abundant walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and seasonal Chinook salmon, with peak action from late spring through fall; expansive shore access near Garrison Dam and numerous launches around Pick City and Van Hook make it a versatile destination for trolling, jigging, or casting along deep points and expansive flats.
Lake Tschida
Also known as Heart Butte Reservoir, Lake Tschida offers solid walleye, crappie, and northern pike fishing; target windblown points, timber, and coves, with shore access at multiple recreation areas and strong spring and early summer bites.
Sweet Briar Lake
West of Bismarck , Sweet Briar Lake offers accessible fishing for walleye, yellow perch, and pike; anglers work shallow points and vegetation, with productive evening bites for walleyes and reliable winter action for panfish.
Van Hook Arm
A famed arm of Lake Sakakawea, Van Hook Arm’s warmer water and forage draw huge schools of walleye and roaming pike; slow-death rigs, spinners, and crankbaits shine along breaks and flats near New Town , especially mid-summer through early fall.
Souris River
Flowing through Minot and the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge , the Souris River yields walleye, northern pike, and yellow perch; anglers probe deeper holes, dam tailwaters, and bends, with early summer and fall prime for jigging and live-bait presentations.