Lake Sakakawea
Walleye Fishing Guide
Lake Sakakawea is a 307,000-acre Missouri River reservoir — North Dakota's largest body of water with a max depth of 180 feet. Trophy walleye, world-class smallmouth, salmon, and lake trout all share this massive impoundment.
Species Present
- Walleye
- Smallmouth Bass
- Northern Pike
- Sauger
- Chinook Salmon
- Lake Trout
- Yellow Perch
Lake Layout & Key Structure
Old river channel running the length, rocky points, flooded prairie (now structure), submerged trees in the Van Hook arm and Pouch Point areas. Depth, structure, and forage all vary dramatically east to west.
Seasonal Walleye Tactics
Walleyes run up the tributaries — Garrison Dam tailrace, the upper end of the lake. Three-way rigs and jigs in the current.
Walleyes follow smelt schools 30–50 ft deep. Lead-core line and crankbaits. Smallmouth on rocky points 10–20 ft.
Walleyes feed up shallow. Salmon snag season on tributaries — Big Bend area.
Plowed access at certain bays. Walleye and sauger 30–45 ft. Lake trout in the deep holes — vertical jig spoons.
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