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Lake Sakakawea

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

North Dakota, United States

4.7·2592 catches

Top fish species at Lake Sakakawea

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Check which species have trophy potential in Lake Sakakawea

Lake Sakakawea fishing reports

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Walleye

length · weight

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Walleye

length · weight

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Northern pike

42 in · 23 lb

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Walleye

length · weight

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Smallmouth bass

length · weight

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White bass

length · weight

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General info

Lake Sakakawea is a lake located in McLean County, North Dakota, United States. It is also intersecting with Dunn County, North Dakota. It is most popular for fishing Walleye, Smallmouth bass, and Northern pike.

Location

47°48′47.4″N 102°18′55.1″W
Directions

Official website

www.parkrec.nd.gov

Amenities

When are Northern Pike biting on Lake Sakakawea?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Lake Sakakawea. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at Lake Sakakawea, ND

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in North Dakota can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Walleye

Walleye

Regulation boundaryNorth Dakota State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit5

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Additional information
Possession limit = 10 Walleye, Sauger, or Saugeye in any combination. In Red and Bois de Sioux rivers up to the first vehicular bridge or crossing on any of their tributaries combined bag limit and possession limit is reduced to 3 Walleye, Sauger, or Saugeye in any combination. Minimum size of 14-inches applies to Walleye and Sauger caught from Lake Elsie (Richland Co.), Buffalo Lake (Sargent Co) and including connected waters north to Sargent Co. Rd. 1, and Jameston and Pipestem reservoirs (Stutsman Co.) and upstream to and including the first bridge crossing.
Edibility
Excellent
Synonyms
Sander vitreus
Season open: year-round
Smallmouth bass

Smallmouth bass

Regulation boundaryNorth Dakota State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit5

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Additional information
No size limit. Possession limit = 10 bass (largemouth or smallmouth in any combination) Smallmouth bass may not be taken with underwater spearfishing gear.
Synonyms
Micropterus dolomieui
Season open: year-round
Northern pike

Northern pike

Regulation boundaryNorth Dakota State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Additional information
Possession limit = 10 northern pike No size limit.
Synonyms
Esox lucius
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Local laws and licenses

North Dakota fishing license

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Reviews of Lake Sakakawea

4.7
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64 ratings

5
4
3
2
1
Top reviews

Cities nearby

Parshall

13.1 miles away

New Town

14.5 miles away

Mandaree

17.6 miles away

Four Bears Village

17.6 miles away

White Shield

24.3 miles away

Douglas

37.8 miles away

Golden Valley

38.0 miles away

Garrison

43.0 miles away

Berthold

43.6 miles away

Pick City

45.0 miles away

Des Lacs

46.3 miles away

Max

47.5 miles away

Tioga

49.5 miles away

Foxholm

51.3 miles away

Carpio

51.6 miles away

Burlington

51.7 miles away

Donnybrook

51.9 miles away

Powers Lake

54.1 miles away

Minot

56.2 miles away

Benedict

57.1 miles away

Logan

58.2 miles away

Sawyer

61.4 miles away

Minot AFB

61.6 miles away

Surrey

62.2 miles away

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FAQ about Lake Sakakawea fishing

📍 Where is Lake Sakakawea located?
Lake Sakakawea is a lake located in McLean County, North Dakota, United States. It is also intersecting with Dunn County, North Dakota. Its coordinates are:
47°48′47.4″N 102°18′55.1″W
.
🎣 Where on Lake Sakakawea is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Lake Sakakawea by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Lake Sakakawea?
The most common species in Lake Sakakawea are:
  • Walleye - 363 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Smallmouth bass - 223 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Northern pike - 231 members reported to have caught this fish
📢 What are the latest Lake Sakakawea fishing reports?
The latest Lake Sakakawea fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Lake Sakakawea right now?
According to fishing regulations at Lake Sakakawea, some of the species in season this November include: Paddlefish. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Sakakawea?

Fishing in North Dakota requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual and short-term, available online or at licensed retailers.

In North Dakota, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16. Residents 65 and older qualify for a discounted license. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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