What is the best fishing lake in North Dakota?

Lake Sakakawea is our first pick, with walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass. Devils Lake and Lake Audubon are close behind.

How many lakes in North Dakota does LakeScope cover?

75 lakes, each with a page for today's conditions.

Where can I catch walleye in North Dakota?

Try Lake Sakakawea, Devils Lake and Lake Audubon.

Where can I catch bass in North Dakota?

Try Lake Sakakawea, Lake Audubon and Lake Ashtabula.

Where can I catch crappie in North Dakota?

Try Lake Ashtabula, Jamestown Reservoir and Metigoshe Lake.

Best fishing lakes in North Dakota: 12 lakes and what bites

North Dakota has 75 lakes on LakeScope. These 12 are the ones we would start with: the best-known fishing water first, then the big lakes with the richest mix of fish and the most structure on the bed.

The lakes at a glance

Lake	Size	Main fish
Lake Sakakawea	307,000 acres	walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass
Devils Lake	about 84,800 acres	walleye, yellow perch, northern pike
Lake Audubon	16,600 acres	walleye, smallmouth bass, muskie
Lake Ashtabula	5,170 acres	walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass
Jamestown Reservoir	2,100 acres	northern pike, walleye, crappie
Lake Darling	9,430 acres	walleye, yellow perch, northern pike
Stump Lake	15,700 acres	walleye, yellow perch, northern pike
Alkaline Lake	5,380 acres	walleye, northern pike, yellow perch
Long Lake	about 14,900 acres	northern pike, yellow perch
Metigoshe Lake	about 1,150 acres	bluegill, crappie, walleye
Lake Alice	about 2,390 acres	northern pike, walleye, yellow perch
Dry Lake	about 2,550 acres	walleye, northern pike, yellow perch

1. Lake Sakakawea

At some 307,000 acres, Lake Sakakawea is a huge piece of water. Expect walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and catfish. It goes down to about 180 ft. The lake bed gives you two sheltered coves and a wind-blown bank to work.

Lake Sakakawea today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Devils Lake

Devils Lake covers about 84,800 acres. It holds walleye, yellow perch, northern pike and white bass.

Devils Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Audubon

Lake Audubon covers 16,600 acres of water. It lies about 54 miles south of Bismarck. It is the Missouri River (via Lake Sakakawea / Snake Creek Pumping Plant) behind Snake Creek embankment. Expect walleye, smallmouth bass, muskie and northern pike. At about 60 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Lake Audubon is a sub-impoundment separated from the much larger Lake Sakakawea by an embankment, and is filled by pumping water from Sakakawea.

Lake Audubon today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Ashtabula

Lake Ashtabula spreads over 5,170 acres of water. You will find it within an easy drive of Fargo (about 59 miles). It holds walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. At about 45 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Lake Ashtabula stretches 27 miles along the Sheyenne River behind Baldhill Dam, completed by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1950.

Lake Ashtabula today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Jamestown Reservoir

Jamestown Reservoir is a reservoir of some 2,100 acres. It lies near Jamestown. It is the James River behind Jamestown Dam. It holds northern pike, walleye, crappie and bluegill. It goes down to about 38 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Jamestown Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Lake Darling

At some 9,430 acres, Lake Darling is a good-sized lake. You will find it about 10 miles southeast of Minot Air Force Base. Lake Darling Dam holds it on the Souris River. It holds walleye, yellow perch, northern pike and smallmouth bass. At about 29 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Lake Darling is impounded on the Souris River by an earthen dam built in 1936 within Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge.

Lake Darling today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Stump Lake

Stump Lake spreads over 15,700 acres of water. The lake is within an easy drive of Grand Forks (about 59 miles). Walleye, yellow perch and northern pike are the draw. The deepest water is around 73 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Stump Lake rose dramatically in the late 20th century and now connects by spillway into the Devils Lake basin.

Stump Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Alkaline Lake

At 5,380 acres of water, Alkaline Lake is a good-sized lake. You will find it about 57 miles west of Bismarck. The fish here are walleye, northern pike and yellow perch. It goes down to about 18 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Despite its name, Alkaline Lake in Kidder County is regularly stocked and supports a walleye fishery.

Alkaline Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Long Lake

At about 14,900 acres, Long Lake is a big lake. You will find it about 5.1 miles northeast of Steele. Northern pike and yellow perch are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a steep ledge to work. Long Lake is a shallow, roughly 18-mile-long saline basin within Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge, a designated Globally Important Bird Area.

Long Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Metigoshe Lake

Metigoshe Lake spreads over about 1,150 acres. You will find it about 9.6 miles south of Bottineau. Bluegill, crappie, walleye and northern pike are the draw. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Metigoshe Lake straddles the North Dakota-Manitoba border and adjoins the Turtle Mountains' International Peace Garden area.

Metigoshe Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Lake Alice

Lake Alice spreads over about 2,390 acres. It lies about 10 miles north of Cando. Northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and white bass are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. This basin is part of the Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge complex in Ramsey County, managed jointly with the main Lake Alice basin.

Lake Alice today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Dry Lake

Dry Lake is a natural lake of about 2,550 acres. The lake is near Ashley. The fish here are walleye, northern pike and yellow perch. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Dry Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pick by species

Lakes listed for a fish are the ones on this page where it is on record or typical for the lake.

Bass: Lake Sakakawea, Lake Audubon, Lake Ashtabula and Jamestown Reservoir
Walleye: Lake Sakakawea, Devils Lake, Lake Audubon and Lake Ashtabula
Crappie: Lake Ashtabula, Jamestown Reservoir and Metigoshe Lake
Pike and muskie: Lake Sakakawea, Devils Lake, Lake Audubon and Lake Ashtabula
Catfish: Lake Sakakawea and Jamestown Reservoir

Season by season

Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
Winter: walleye are usually fair. Cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Before you go

A North Dakota fishing licence covers every lake here; the state fish and wildlife agency publishes the limits and any special rules lake by lake. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.