Lake Sakakawea

Lake fishing North Dakota · 04:50 - 20:51

Lake Sakakawea is a lake in North Dakota. The fish here are ranked by weather, water temperature and season, see the likely catch below.

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Conditions right now

Weather

Heavy rain

Water temp (est.)

65°F

Air temp

58°F

Wind

17 mph

Pressure

29.45 inHg ↑ rising

Clouds

98.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Updated 2026-06-17 14:57

Best times today

Dusk 19:36–21:36 Night 21:36–04:05

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Next hours

06:00

58°

07:00

58°

08:00

58°

09:00

58°

10:00

58°

11:00

58°

12:00

59°

13:00

61°

14:00

64°

15:00

64°

16:00

65°

17:00

62°

Likely catch now (13 species)

Common Carp

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

20%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 18 degrees, peak season.

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Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

17%

Active through the night, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

14%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 18 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Muskellunge

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

7%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 18 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Brook Trout

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

7%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 18 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

6%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 18 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

6%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 18 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Brown Trout

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

6%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 18 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

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Black Crappie

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

4%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 18 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

4%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 18 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

4%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 18 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

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Bluegill

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

3%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 18 degrees, peak season.

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Lake Trout

Lake Trout

Salvelinus namaycush

2%

Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.

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About the fishing here

Lake Sakakawea is a lake in North Dakota.

Popular catches here include Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Walleye, Muskellunge, Brook Trout and Largemouth Bass.

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Tips right now

Technique Start with a ledger bait for common carp, the most likely catch right now.

Timing This is a prime window for common carp at night. Fish hard now.

Colour Stained water: try red, yellow and strong scent for common carp.

Lure Ledger bait for common carp: Boilies or corn.

Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

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About this water

Lake Sakakawea is a large reservoir in the north central United States, impounded in 1953 by Garrison Dam, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam located in the Missouri River basin in central North Dakota. Named for the Shoshone-Hidatsa woman Sacagawea, it is the largest man-made lake located entirely within North Dakota, the second largest in the United States by area after Lake Oahe, and the third largest in the United States by volume, after Lake Mead and Lake Powell.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Missouri River North Dakota · 50.3 mi away Missouri River North Dakota · 50.6 mi away Missouri River North Dakota · 59.3 mi away Missouri River North Dakota · 73.7 mi away Missouri River North Dakota · 76.3 mi away Little Missouri River North Dakota · 78.2 mi away White Lake North Dakota · 99.8 mi away Little Missouri River North Dakota · 107.9 mi away

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Lake Sakakawea?

Popular catches here include Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Walleye, Muskellunge, Brook Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Brown Trout.

Do you need a fishing license at Lake Sakakawea?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Lake Sakakawea?

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

What is biting at Lake Sakakawea right now?

Right now Common Carp is the most likely catch, at about 20%.