7 public waters in the South Central & James River Valley region — 5 lakes/reservoirs and 2 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a North Dakota licence.
See every public fishing venue in North Dakota on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Lake Sakakawea (350,000+ ac) — North Dakota's largest lake by far, a Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Missouri River behind Garrison Dam, stretching nearly 180 miles across the state. Walleye and Northern Pike are the headline fisheries, plus a stocked Chinook Salmon program, Smallmouth Bass, and trophy Channel Catfish. One of the best Walleye fisheries in the country.
Lake Ilo, a 1,000-acre reservoir in Dunn County on the Missouri Slope, serves up Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Walleye in a scenic badlands setting. This water delivers consistent action across multiple species and depths, appealing to both panfish hunters and pike anglers.
Le Paul Slough (130 acres) sits in Dunn County, North-Dakota, managed by North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Dunn County, North-Dakota, Moffet Slough is a 79-acre lake, managed by North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
BarZ Dam is a 2-acre reservoir in Dunn County's Missouri Slope & Badlands region, managed by North Dakota Game and Fish Department. This small impoundment offers bluegill fishing in a remote badlands setting.
The Little Missouri winds 515 km through North Dakota's Missouri Slope and Badlands, hosting sauger, walleye, and northern pike as primary targets alongside channel catfish and white bass. Common carp are abundant throughout this system and represent a substantial under-fished opportunity for anglers seeking hard-fighting, trophy-sized freshwater fish.
The Knife River covers 266 km across Billings, Dunn, and Mercer counties in the South Central region, providing focused walleye and northern pike fishing with reliable channel catfish action. Common carp thrive in this system and represent a growing fishing opportunity for those targeting larger, more elusive quarry.
Across its mapped waters, Dunn County holds 25 species on PiscaMaps, including Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill and Sauger.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the North Dakota map Join PiscaMapsOne North Dakota Game and Fish Department fishing licence covers every public water in the state, the Missouri River reservoirs and every water on NDGF's Fishing Waters list included — the resident annual is about $29 (including the required Fishing, Hunting & Furbearer Certificate), the non-resident annual about $73, with non-resident 3-day (~$53) and 10-day (~$63) options. No separate trout stamp is required. North Dakota residents 65 and older can buy a discounted senior licence for about $12, and anyone under 16 fishes free. Licences run 1 April to 31 March. Buy at gf.nd.gov.