Reservoir · McLean, North Dakota
Lake Sakakawea
Lake Sakakawea
Reservoir · North Dakota
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide a live condition rating for this destination. Destination and fishery information is still available.
Weather Near Lake
Loading weather…
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Lake Sakakawea.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Lake Sakakawea is North Dakota's Missouri-system flagship reservoir fishery behind Garrison Dam. NDGF names it among the state's Big 3 destinations for walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, white bass, and channel catfish. StrikeTracks publishes complete static fishery, species, techniques, access, and regulation guidance. Live pool temperature is not available under accepted architecture. This is not Lake Oahe and not the Garrison Dam Tailrace river.
Target species
Walleye
Sander vitreus
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
NDGF treats Lake Sakakawea as a primary Missouri-system walleye reservoir in the Big 3 statewide set.
Northern pike
Esox lucius
Canonical species: Northern Pike
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Northern pike are a common NDGF Sakakawea target alongside walleye.
Smallmouth bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Canonical species: Smallmouth Bass
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Smallmouth bass are a common NDGF Sakakawea target on rocky reservoir structure.
Channel catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Canonical species: Channel Catfish
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Channel catfish occur in the Sakakawea Missouri-system mixed fishery.
White bass
Morone chrysops
Canonical species: White Bass
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
White bass occur in the Sakakawea Missouri-system mixed fishery.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
Large USACE Missouri River mainstem reservoir behind Garrison Dam with public boat ramps, shore access, and a walleye-centered mixed warmwater fishery. Distinct from Lake Oahe (South Dakota canonical identity), Lake Audubon, and the Garrison Dam Tailrace river. Bismarck Missouri 06342500 is not this pool.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public USACE and NDGF recreation access around Garrison Dam and Lake Sakakawea. Confirm current ramp, recreation, and NDGF rules before launching. This identity is North Dakota only.
Stocking information
NDGF manages Lake Sakakawea as a Missouri-system mixed warmwater fishery. Do not invent a destination stocking calendar from tourism copy.
Official sources
North Dakota Game and Fish Department statewide inland fishing regulations apply, including any Missouri River / Lake Sakakawea specials. Confirm current NDGF harvest rules. Lake Oahe remains a separate South Dakota identity.
conditionPublicationPolicy=static-value-structural-unavailable. Lake Sakakawea is North Dakota's independently named Missouri-system flagship reservoir behind Garrison Dam. NDGF lists it in the Big 3 statewide set with a complete walleye-centered mixed fishery, public USACE/NDGF access, and destination-specific harvest context. No same-lake live USGS 00010 qualifies as pool thermal. Garrison tailwater temperature, Bismarck Missouri 06342500, dam-release temperature, elevation, and storage are not Lake Sakakawea water temperature. PATH B catalog-visible Unavailable plus STATIC_VALUE_EXCEPTION_APPROVED is the strongest honest class. This is not Lake Oahe and not an Estimated candidate.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
McLean, North Dakota
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
County
McLean
Management Category
missouri-system-reservoir
Regulation Scope
statewide-inland
Regulation Summary
NDGF statewide inland fishing regulations. Confirm current seasons, limits, and any Missouri-system specials on gf.nd.gov before fishing.
Target Species
walleye, northern-pike, smallmouth-bass, white-bass, channel-catfish
Public Access
Public
Boat Launch
Available
Shore Fishing
Available
Description
Lake Sakakawea, McLean County, North Dakota, the Garrison Dam Missouri River reservoir. Catalog-visible Unavailable: no same-lake live USGS 00010 is assigned as pool thermal. Missouri River temperature, Garrison tailwater temperature, dam-release temperature, Bismarck 06342500, nearby air/weather, and elevation/storage are not Lake Sakakawea water temperature. This is not Lake Oahe (canonical South Dakota) and not Garrison Dam Tailrace. StrikeTracks publishes complete NDGF static fishery value.
