← North Dakota fishing maps

Best rainbow trout lakes in North Dakota

9 North Dakota waters hold rainbow trout, 8 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Missouri River — 31 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass
2. Stanley Reservoir — 11 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout
3. Northgate Dam — 23 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
4. Harmony Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
5. Sheep Creek Dam — 32 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
6. Camels Hump Lake — 32 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
7. McGregor Dam — 32 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
8. Moon Lake — 54 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
9. McDowell Dam — 42 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout

When to fish rainbow trout in North Dakota

• Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
• Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.

Also in North Dakota: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best common carp lakes · best goldeye lakes

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