Is Ice Fishing Any Good in North Dakota?
Heck, Yes! North Dakota is one of our favorite places to hit up some ice fishing in the winter. This legendary fishing state is renowned for its wonderful fishing lakes, breathtaking scenery and a wide range of beautiful wildlife. It’s also a great place to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the cities and get out on the lake chasing down some big fish!
We have caught some seriously big Northern Pike over at Devil’s Lake and absolutely loved spending some top quality fishing time over there. So much so that we have made this article to share our love of North Dakota ice fishing and hope that you will have as much success as we did.
There are an abundance of amazing species to catch in the winter season, such as Northern Pike, Walleye, Crappie, Muskie, Yellow Perch, White Bass and Bluegill. We highly recommend getting to North Dakota to see what their legendary ice fishing has to offer. We promise you won’t be disappointed.
Below we have compiled a list of the 10 best ice Fishing Spots in North Dakota.
Oh and before you head out, make sure you know your stuff when it comes to ice fishing etiquette!
Top 10 Spots for Ice Fishing Spots in North Dakota
1. Devil’s Lake
Of course we had to start with the main fishing lake in the whole of North Dakota. This fantastic lake is absolutely great for fishing all year round and especially great for ice fishing when the ice hits.
We spent a few days fishing there and pulled out some of the biggest Northern Pike we have ever caught. The average size of those beauties was just silly at times. It seemed to be one huge Pike after another and we loved it!
Our primary method of fishing here was using tip ups with dead bait to attract the Pike, and boy did it work!
If you’re looking for the best chance of catching a big Northern Pike, then your best bet is to target the main lake structures and long bars that can be found in these areas. Any basin, mud or weed edge seemed to work great for us and we hope it will be the same for you.
2. Lake Sakakawea
This is one huge reservoir. Conveniently located only about 50 miles from Bismarck, you can find all the same fish here that are in Devil’s Lake. This is actually the second biggest reservoir in the USA by surface acreage and offers some fantastic ice fishing opportunities.
Lake Sakakawea is known for its large Walleye that can give you a heck of a fight if you manage to get one on the line. Definitely take a trip to this lake if you get a chance.
3. Lake Oahe
Now if you thought Lake Sakakawea was big, check this out. Located in the same state (also in South Dakota) is the largest reservoir in surface acreage in the whole of the USA. Now that’s impressive.
With such a large area there are plenty of opportunities to land yourself some enormous fish. Expect plenty of Walleye and Northern Pike.
4. Lake Metigoshe
Situated right next to the US-Canadian border is Lake Metigoshe. Snuggled up next to the Turtle Mountain’s, this lake is great for panfish. There are reports of some great bluegill and crappie fishing up there if that is your thing. However, you can still catch Pike, Perch and Walleye.
5. Lake Renwick
Another great lake for Northern Pike fishing if you can’t make it to the others. Can be great for Bluegill too.
6. Lake Darling
We have heard some reports of people pulling out a lot of jumbo Perch out of Lake Darling. This is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. Expect to find some great Walleye in the lake as well.
7. Bowman Hayley Lake
Located in Bowman County, this lake is far from the biggest on the list but offers some nice ice fishing. It is about 30ft deep at its deepest point and is home to a variety of fish, including Northern Pike, Perch, Bluegill and Muskie.
8. Jamestown Reservoir
This is a fantastic place for some ice Crappie fishing. We took the journey over here and were just pulling Crappie out of the water like it was nothing!
Pick up a spot next to the river channel and focus on the structures under the ice; this worked a treat for us.
9. Lake Ashtabula
This is a very long and narrow lake that does not really fish the same as the other lakes. It fishes more like a river so be aware of this. In the ice fishing season it is best to head to the middle of the river and fish for the channels and structures. There are good opportunities to catch White Bass, Northern Pike and Perch here
10. Pipestem Reservoir
Similar to Jamestown, this one is fantastic for some Crappie fishing. We would give the same advice for here as we did there. Fish the river channels and look for structures.
Tips
- As we mentioned earlier, we had great success with using tip ups on Devil’s Lake. We pulled out so many beautiful Northern Pike that day I lost count. We used a dead Herring (the oilier and smellier the fish the better) and we put out bait anywhere between one to five feet from the bottom. If the pike can sniff it out, be sure that they will take a bite at it.
- The rules in North Dakota permit each fisherman to use up to four lines at any one time. This is generous compared to other states, so please take advantage of that if you can.
- Be sure to check out the tours available all around the big lakes in North Dakota. Learning from a local will really help you and give you the best chance of going home with a catch to remember.
- When fishing in the smaller reservoirs (which there are plenty of) have a try at catching some Crappie. There are an abundance of them in some of the reservoirs such as Pipestem and Jamestown Reservoir. You can find some pretty big ones in there too.
- To find the best Crappie, focus on the creek channels and fish for the structures. If you can get yourself to the river channels with the sharp edges and you’ll be sure to have some success.
- If you are going to stay over night then make sure you book accommodation in advance as some of these places are pretty remote and lodges can book up fast. You don’t want to spend a night sleeping in your ice shelter!
Conclusion
There you have it, our tips and list for the best ice fishing spots in North Dakota. If you head to anyone of these be sure to speak to a local first to get some hints and tips from the experts.
North Dakota is a wonderful scenic place to do some ice fishing, we promise you won’t be disappointed.
Please be sure to keep safety in mind, check out this blog post with some hints and tips for heading out onto the ice.
If you have any questions about daily limits or anything else on ice fishing in North Dakota then check out the ‘Fishing FAQ’s’ on the North Dakota State Government website.
Thanks for reading and happy fishing!