Lake Sakakawea

Lake Sakakawea

Size
350,703ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Yes
Species in Lake Sakakawea
Walleye
Walleye
Sauger
Sauger
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Northern pike
Northern pike
White bass
White bass
Perch
Perch
Crappie
Crappie
Channel catfish
Channel catfish
Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Brown trout
Brown trout
Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
Sturgeon
Sturgeon

Overview

Lake Sakakawea Map

Features

Lake Sakakawea is the 3rd largest reservoir in the United States. The lake was created to stem the flooding on the Missouri River and to provide an energy source for the area around the lake. The Garrison Dam was started by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1940’s and the dam was finished in the 1950’s. The lake averages between 2- and 3- miles in width and is approximately 6- miles wide at its widest point. The lake was named after Sacagawea, a Shoshone Indian woman, who helped Lewis and Clark in their adventure to scout the Louisiana Purchase. Lake Sakakawea is a very popular fishing destination across the country. Due to the size of the lake fishing can be tough. But, when you locate the fish, the fishing can be outstanding. Hiring a guide is suggested.

Forage

A wide range of species from rainbow smelt, crayfish, small minnow species and cisco.

Seasonal Movements

Shortly after ice out, walleye, northern pike, sauger and saugeye will make their spawning runs into bays and the small fingers that are in the bays. The bays with more current and warmer water are more popular. After the walleye, northern pike, sauger and saugeye run, the smallmouth bass and largemouth bass will move up into shallow bays and fingers to spawn. Water temperatures play a major role in the spawning of these fish. Watch for the water temperatures in the 40’s to the mid 60’s respectfully.
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Fish Species

Brown trout
fish
8-29 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2024
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2024
Jul
Channel catfish
fish
8-29 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
10.8599
0Statewide Range19.11465

Lake Sakakawea Channel catfish abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Jul
2024
Jul
Chinook salmon
fish
22-23 in
Length Range
23 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2023
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Jul
2022
Jul
2023
Jul
Crappie
fish
8-29 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.2415
0Statewide Range5.6988

Lake Sakakawea Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Jul
2024
Jul
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized crappie based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202414
Largemouth bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Northern pike
fish
8-29 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
5.2081
0Statewide Range10.50505

Lake Sakakawea Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Jul
2024
Jul
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized northern-pike based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202442
202342
202244
202141
202045
Perch
fish
8-29 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
3.9626
0Statewide Range38.21175

Lake Sakakawea Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Jul
2024
Jul
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized perch based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201916
201619
Rainbow trout
fish
21-22 in
Length Range
22 in
Length Range
2015
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2015
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2015
Jul
Sauger
fish
8-29 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
18.0086
0Statewide Range6.304

Lake Sakakawea Sauger abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Jul
2024
Jul
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized sauger based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202222
201722
Smallmouth bass
fish
8-29 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
2.43
0Statewide Range4.25

Lake Sakakawea Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Jul
2024
Jul
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized smallmouth-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202318
202218
202118
202018
201918
Sturgeon
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Walleye
fish
8-29 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
62.5638
0Statewide Range33.62505

Lake Sakakawea Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Jul
2024
Jul
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized walleye based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202428
202329
202229
202129
202028
White bass
fish
8-29 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
2.2232
0Statewide Range12.01475

Lake Sakakawea White bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Jul
2024
Jul
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized white-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202120