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Wild Rice River is a public river in Richland County, Sargent County and Cass County, North Dakota, managed by North Dakota Game and Fish Department. You can fish it on a North Dakota fishing licence; bank access is at bridge crossings, NDGF access points and public parks. North Dakota riverbeds are private property up to the ordinary high-water mark except on a few federally-declared-navigable reaches, so wading or bank fishing away from a public access point needs the landowner's permission. Public access confirmed via NDGF Fishing Waters list.
It runs roughly 237 miles through the Red River Valley region. Anglers here mostly fish for northern pike, walleye, channel catfish, black bullhead; common carp are also on record. Live flow and gauge height come from the Wild Rice River Near St Benedict, Nd USGS station shown below. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Reiland Lake and Vislisel Lake.
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: Most North Dakota rivers (the Sheyenne, James, Pembina and the smaller prairie creeks) are waded or floated by canoe, kayak and jon boat; the Missouri River reservoirs (Sakakawea, Oahe) and the Red River of the North take full-size boats.
Bank & bivvy camping: This water is on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's official Fishing Waters list — NDGF has confirmed public fishing access here, whether through state or federal land ownership, a public easement, or another arrangement (see the access note above if one is on file). Access away from an NDGF or Corps of Engineers site may still cross private land on the approach; use a marked public access point where one exists.
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: 4 mapped — Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp.
Camping: 3 sites mapped nearby — Campsite, Campsite, Campsite.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.
Loading live flow & gauge height…
Live from USGS gauge 05053500 — Wild Rice River Near St Benedict, Nd. Full gauge data →
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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