10 public waters in the South Central & James River Valley region — 6 lakes/reservoirs and 4 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.
Sather Dam in McKenzie County holds 44 acres of largemouth bass, white crappie, and bluegill habitat across the Turtle Mountain & North Central region. This smaller reservoir is a solid panfish and bass destination for anglers in remote North Central North Dakota.
In McKenzie County, North-Dakota, Sather Lake is a 39-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.
Arnegard Dam in McKenzie County spans 24 acres and offers a diverse warm-water fishery in the Turtle Mountains region. Northern pike are the headline species here, while yellow perch, channel catfish, black bullhead and bluegill round out a solid panfish and pike opportunity.
Hepper Dam, a 4-acre reservoir in McKenzie County on the Turtle Mountain plateau, is a bluegill-focused fishery managed by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
Situated within Watford City Park in McKenzie County, this 1-acre pond combines Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, and Bluegill in the Turtle Mountain & North Central region. The park setting makes it a convenient stop for anglers seeking multiple species options in northwestern North Dakota.
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 Missouri River through North Dakota — the free-flowing reach below Garrison Dam ('the tailrace') is a renowned trophy Walleye and Sauger fishery, plus Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass and Paddlefish (snagging season).
This 511 km stretch of the Upper Missouri River spans from the northern plains through McKenzie and Williams counties, offering a unique mix that includes paddlefish, burbot (ling), and bigmouth buffalo alongside more conventional sauger and channel catfish. The presence of goldeye and freshwater drum rounds out a distinctive coolwater-to-warmwater transition fishery managed by the state.
The Yellowstone River cuts 32 km across the Missouri Slope and Badlands of McKenzie and Williams counties, hosting one of North Dakota's most distinctive fisheries: Paddlefish, Walleye, Sauger, and abundant Common Carp and buffalo species. Channel Catfish and Freshwater Drum complete a uniquely mixed warmwater and paddlefish opportunity.
Across its mapped waters, McKenzie County holds 29 species on PiscaMaps, including Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill, Common Carp, Sauger, White Bass and Bigmouth Buffalo.
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.