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Lake Sakakawea is a public lake in McLean County, Mountrail County, McKenzie County, Dunn County, Mercer County and Williams County, North Dakota, managed by North Dakota Game and Fish Department. It is public water managed for fishing by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Public access confirmed via marquee water.
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 Sakakawea covers about 350,520 acres in the South Central & James River Valley region. Anglers here mostly fish for walleye, chinook salmon, northern pike, bigmouth buffalo; channel catfish, cisco, common carp, freshwater drum are also on record. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Lake Susie and Hepper Dam.
Species from PiscaMaps water-type profiles, NDGF trout designations and hand research.
Night fishing: No statewide night-fishing closure in North Dakota. Snagging (for paddlefish, in season, on the Missouri River system only), bowfishing and setlines for carp, buffalo and catfish are legal on most waters with their own seasons and gear rules.
Boats: Lake Sakakawea, Lake Oahe and Devils Lake have no horsepower limit and take full-size boats; many smaller NDGF-managed lakes are shallower prairie waters better suited to a small boat or canoe. North Dakota requires boater education for operators born after 31 Dec 1985.
Bank & bivvy camping: Camp at the Corps of Engineers recreation areas around Sakakawea and Oahe, North Dakota state parks (several on the big reservoirs and at Devils Lake), and NDGF-managed public use areas at smaller lakes statewide.
Tackle: Statewide walleye/sauger limit is usually 5 in combination (a slot or reduced limit applies on some waters, including parts of Devils Lake); northern pike 5; smallmouth/largemouth bass 5; channel catfish generous; panfish (perch, crappie, bluegill) generous with a reduced limit on some lakes. Check the current NDGF fishing guide for this water.
Boat ramps: 20 mapped — Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp and others nearby.
Camping: 20 sites mapped nearby — Lake Sakakawea SP - Fishing Point, Campsite, Campsite, Campsite, Campsite, Campsite and others.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.
Anyone 16 or older needs a North Dakota fishing licence — the resident annual is about $29 (with the required Fishing, Hunting & Furbearer Certificate), the non-resident annual about $73, with non-resident 3-day (~$53) and 10-day (~$63) licences also sold. North Dakota resident seniors (65+) can buy a discounted senior licence for about $12, and anyone under 16 fishes free. Licences run 1 April to 31 March. Buy from NDGF at gf.nd.gov. A North Dakota fishing licence covers this water — it is on NDGF's official Fishing Waters list.
Every water carries species, bank & boat access, current regulations and live water conditions — and members get Swim Mapper, Catch Logger and Trip Planner. It's the only US map with a dedicated carp-water layer.
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