Fishing in
North Dakota
1,720 named waters · 0 stocked in the last 30 days
Devils Lake has turned into one of the best perch and walleye fisheries in North America after decades of rising water levels flooded new habitat and fed an explosion in the fish population. The Missouri River reservoir system, including Lake Sakakawea, adds walleye, salmon, and northern pike fishing across the western part of the state.
North Dakota holds 1,720 fishable waters on the books. North Dakota Game and Fish Department has logged 515 stockings in the last year, led by walleye. The biggest water in the state is Lake Sakakawea at 314,243 acres.
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When does North Dakota stock?
Stocking peaks in June, going by every record on the books.
What you'll catch here
- Walleye95 waters
- Northern Pike30 waters
- Yellow Perch17 waters
- Channel Catfish13 waters
- Rainbow Trout11 waters
- Bluegill9 waters
- Largemouth Bass6 waters
- Cutthroat Trout3 waters
Freshest stockings
Full report →- Horsehead LakeWalleyeJun 25, 2026
- Horsehead LakeWalleyeJun 25, 2026
- Lake SakakaweaWalleyeJun 24, 2026
- Lake SakakaweaWalleyeJun 24, 2026
- Lake SakakaweaWalleyeJun 24, 2026
Most-stocked waters, last 12 months
- Lake Sakakawea33× stocked
- Jamestown Reservoir15× stocked
- Devils Lake11× stocked
- Lake Ashtabula8× stocked
- Moon Lake5× stocked
- Stump Lake5× stocked
- Cottonwood Lake5× stocked
- Lake Darling5× stocked
- Epping Dam5× stocked
- Twin Lakes5× stocked
Biggest waters
- Lake Sakakawea314,243 ac
- Devils Lake79,682 ac
- Long Lake17,594 ac
- Audubon Lake15,868 ac
- Pelican Lake13,872 ac
- Lake Alice10,837 ac
- Lake Irvine10,793 ac
- Dry Lake9,405 ac
Major rivers
- Yellowstone Riverorder 10 · ~14,703 cfs
- Little Missouri Riverorder 7 · ~506 cfs
- Cannonball Riverorder 7 · ~206 cfs
- Heart Riverorder 7 · ~166 cfs
- Knife Riverorder 7 · ~115 cfs
- South Marais Riverorder 7 · ~1 cfs
- Sheyenne Riverorder 6 · ~417 cfs
- Pembina Riverorder 6 · ~210 cfs
Waters by county
All counties →McKenzie (108) · Rolette (100) · McLean (75) · Burke (75) · Bottineau (68) · Stutsman (64) · Dunn (64) · Williams (59) · Kidder (53) · McHenry (51) · Billings (48) · Emmons (42) · Benson (41) · Morton (40) · Nelson (39) · Pembina (35) · Richland (34) · Grand Forks (34) · Ward (34) · Sheridan (33) · Slope (33) · Barnes (32) · Sargent (32) · Pierce (32) · Grant (31) · Burleigh (31) · Bowman (30) · Mercer (30) · Ramsey (26) · Traill (24)
Seasons, limits, and rules are North Dakota's call — read the official regulations and buy your license from the state, not a middleman. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
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North Dakota fishing — FAQ
Where does North Dakota stock fish?+
North Dakota Game and Fish Department logged 515 stockings across North Dakota in the last year, led by walleye, northern pike, yellow perch and channel catfish. Browse the map and most-stocked waters above for exact locations.
When does North Dakota stock fish?+
Stocking in North Dakota peaks in June, going by every record on the books. See each water's page for its own seasonality.
Do I need a license to fish in North Dakota?+
Yes — North Dakota requires a fishing license for most anglers. Buy one from the state agency and check current seasons and limits before you go.
How many fishable waters are in North Dakota?+
North Dakota has 1,720 named fishable waters mapped on FishableWaters, from stocked reservoirs to wild streams.