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Because of North Dakota's low population and many lakes it is not uncommon to have a lake all to yourself. Listed below are just a few destinations for flyfishers in ND.

*Practice Catch and Release

From the tailrace below Garrison Dam on Lake Sakakawea for about 10 miles the Missouri River holds cutthroat trout, brown trout and rainbow trout along with chinook (king) salmon runs. Some of the trout grow to enormous sizes. Many of North Dakota's record fish come from the tailrace with the record brown trout of 31lbs 11oz (36"), rainbow trout of 21lbs 4oz (32"), cutthroat trout of 10lbs 1oz (25") and chinook salmon of 31lbs 2 oz (41"). The fast current and enormous volume of water does not make this an easy place to flyfish. Bring your heaviest sink lines, rainbow smelt and minnow patterns.

Fish Creek is a great lake for the new stillwater flyfisher. "The Creek" is well taken care of by the G&F so their are always many trout to catch. At ice off browns and rainbows are caught up to 22" but get harder to come by when the water starts to warm. Fish Creek also holds some very large smallmouth bass and largemouth bass in good quanitities.

Being the third largest manmade lake in the USA and the size of some Eastern States it's not one that many people think of as a good place to flyfish. But, this gigantic lake has excellent salmon fishing and is hit by flyfisherman when the chinook salmon run from the depths into the shallow bays by the dam in the fall.

Northgate is one of North Dakota's best rainbow trout lakes. This lake holds many rainbows up to 25". The record high temperatures in 2007 was hard on Northgate as it had a partial summerkill.

A great small lake for browns and rainbows.

Lightning Lake is not what it was a few years ago due to poaching, overharvest and some genius that put perch in the lake but it still does produce some large bows to 22" for those willing to put in the time. Lightning Lake is closed from Nov 1st to April 1st and is Catch and Release until July 1st.

Strawberry Lake is a beautiful trout lake located in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota.  

Raleigh Reservoir is a good place to flyfish for 10"-14" trout.

Nygren is known for producing trout up to 21" and it holds some nice bass.

Camels Hump is a gorgeous lake located in the badlands. It was restocked in 2005 after being killed off by the G&F. The G&F is putting a lot of effort into Camels Hump they planted tens of thousands of stickleback and fathead minnows in the last few years along with many rainbows. Camels Hump is a good place to flyfish for trout and can produce some nice fish.

McDowell has had water quality issues the last few years but it's still a good place to catch 12"-14" rainbow trout with the occasional 18". McDowell is also a great place to catch bluegill and bass.

The Turtle River is the only river besides the Missouri that holds trout in North Dakota. It gets a fair amount of pressure but the Game and Fish makes sure their are always trout to be caught.

The lakes listed above are only a few of the trout lakes North Dakota has to offer. Check out the ND Game and Fish website to view all the lakes with trout in ND. 

The premier largemouth bass lake in ND. The water is warmed by the power plant next to the lake so it does not freeze. Because of the year round summer conditions the bass grow quickly and get big. The fishing is great in the coldest of winter days as the water rarely gets below 50 degrees. A excellent winter flyfishing destination for largemouth bass, crappies and bluegill.

The Arroda Lakes have pike, crappies and largemouth bass. These are great lakes to hide from the ever so constant North Dakota wind.

A great clearwater lake for flyfishing smallmouth bass and pike.

The Canal Lakes provide good flyfishing for northern pike and smallmouth bass. The Canal Lakes also have a few tiger muskie. The Canal system has clear water and the lakes are always full even in drought years.