McLean County, ND · Reservoir
Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park)
A 178-mile Missouri River reservoir behind Garrison Dam — one of the largest man-made lakes in the U.S. and North Dakota’s flagship walleye fishery. Walleye and sauger fill the points and flats, smallmouth bass hold on the rock, northern pike prowl the bays, and a landlocked chinook salmon run draws fall anglers. Many state-park and access-area ramps ring the lake.
Live · updated
Top picks today
Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Chinook Salmon & White Bass — tied at the top (68/100)
5 species tied for best of 5 tracked at Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park).
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Species at Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park)
5 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 5 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Walleye Workable day for Walleye. In season 68/100
What's helping
- 10 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
About. Sander vitreus — Maryland's premier cool-water gamefish. Deep Creek Lake is the flagship fishery; also found in the non-tidal Potomac and the Youghiogheny River. Low-light feeder — dusk, dawn, and overcast/windy days are prime. Jigs, crankbaits, and nightcrawler harnesses are standard.
Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · either tide · depth 10–40 ft.
- Min size
- 14"
- Daily creel
- 5
North Dakota: 5 walleye and sauger combined per day (no size limit on most waters; a 14" minimum applies on the Missouri River system — Lake Sakakawea — and Devils Lake).
Source: North Dakota non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#1 Smallmouth Bass Workable day for Smallmouth Bass. In season 68/100
What's helping
- 10 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
About. Micropterus dolomieu — Premier gamefish of the non-tidal Potomac, the Upper Susquehanna, and Deep Creek Lake. Pound-for-pound one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish. Hits tubes, crayfish imitations, spinnerbaits, and topwater poppers.
Prefers. Water 55–78°F (ideal 68°F) · either tide · depth 3–30 ft.
- Daily creel
- 5
North Dakota: 5 bass/day, no statewide size limit.
Source: North Dakota non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#1 Northern Pike Workable day for Northern Pike. In season 68/100
What's helping
- 10 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
About. Esox lucius — A toothy, torpedo-shaped ambush predator that lurks in weed edges and drop-offs and strikes large spoons, spinnerbaits, and live suckers. Spawns in shallow flooded vegetation right after ice-out, holds shallow in spring and fall, and slides deeper through summer. Caught year-round, including through the ice — the prairie reservoirs of the northern plains, Fort Peck chief among them, grow trophy "gators" past 20 lb.
Prefers. Water 50–70°F (ideal 63°F) · either tide · depth 4–30 ft.
- Daily creel
- no limit
North Dakota: no daily or possession limit on northern pike on most waters — harvest encouraged.
Source: North Dakota non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#1 Chinook Salmon Workable day for Chinook Salmon. In season 68/100
What's helping
- 10 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
About. Oncorhynchus tshawytscha — The “king” — the largest Pacific salmon and the marquee stocked predator of the Great Lakes. Trolled over open water through summer, then staged off river mouths and run up tributaries on the fall spawning push. Flow and water temperature drive the river bite.
Prefers. Water 42–58°F (ideal 50°F) · either tide · depth 15–150 ft.
- Daily creel
- 5
North Dakota: 5 salmon/day on Lake Sakakawea — the lake's landlocked chinook are a marquee fall fishery (snagging is allowed below Garrison Dam in season).
Source: North Dakota non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#1 White Bass Workable day for White Bass. In season 68/100
What's helping
- 10 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
About. Morone chrysops — A hard-fighting open-water schooling bass of big reservoirs and their feeder rivers across the Plains and Midwest. White bass run up tributaries by the thousands to spawn in spring — the run is a calendar event on waters like McConaughy and the Missouri reservoirs — then chase shad in surface-busting "jumps" through summer. Often hybridized with striped bass to make the "wiper." Abundant and lightly regulated, so creel limits are generous or absent.
Prefers. Water 55–80°F (ideal 68°F) · either tide · depth 4–30 ft.
- Daily creel
- 30
North Dakota: 30 white bass/day, 60 in possession.
Source: North Dakota non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
Location Info
Water Body
Reservoir
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
North Dakota non-tidal
Coordinates
Notes
North Dakota: 5 walleye/sauger per day, 14" minimum on the Missouri River system. Salmon snagging below Garrison Dam in season.
Local reports & rules for Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park): North Dakota Game & Fish fishing & regulations → · trout stocking schedule → · fish-consumption advisory →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park)?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park)?
Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park) is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Chinook Salmon, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park)?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park) have?
Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. North Dakota: 5 walleye/sauger per day, 14" minimum on the Missouri River system. Salmon snagging below Garrison Dam in season.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park)?
state agency regulations apply at Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park) tidal water?
No. Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.