4 public waters in the South Central & James River Valley region — 2 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.
Harmony Lake, a 41-acre reservoir in Mercer County's Missouri Slope & Badlands region, offers Northern Pike as its headline predator alongside Rainbow Trout and panfish (Bluegill and Black Crappie). The modest size and cool-water trout stocking make this a compact but productive destination in western North Dakota.
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.
Hazen Creek flows through Mercer County in the Missouri Slope & Badlands region of North Dakota, offering rainbow trout habitat in a scenic badlands setting. This small stream managed by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department provides intimate fly-fishing and light-tackle opportunities for resident trout.
Across its mapped waters, Mercer County holds 21 species on PiscaMaps, including Northern Pike, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Black Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon 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.