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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
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307,000-acre reservoir near Riverdale. USACE Garrison Dam reservoir on the Missouri River. One of the top walleye fisheries in the United States. The lake tops out around 220 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The drawn water covers 313,279 acres wrapped in 1051.4 miles of bank, with 87 islands in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 13.4) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. 52% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 111.8 mi end to end and 34.5 mi across at its widest. Mountrail County claims this one. Hiddenwood Lake sits 24 mi east — the closest neighbouring chart.
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 40 ft. Offshore hump is the standout, an offshore hump at roughly 33 ft, rated prime for summer walleye. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Creek inflow (2 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Offshore hump (33 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Shoreline point (19 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Offshore hump (33 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Come spring, look for chinook salmon tight to the bank in 5 to 40 ft. They move out to 50 to 120 ft in summer and finish the year down in 30 to 90 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep hole: a deep basin around 112 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (2 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep hole (112 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep break (44 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (63 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Weed flat (7 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring puts sauger in skinny water — 4 to 18 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 45 ft. Creek inflow is the standout, an inflow / creek mouth at roughly 2 ft, rated prime for spring sauger. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (2 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (23 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Offshore hump (33 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Deep break (44 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
When the water first warms, smallmouth bass slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Offshore hump: an offshore hump around 23 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (23 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline point (19 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Deep break (44 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring puts white bass in skinny water — 2 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 40 ft. Creek inflow is the standout, an inflow / creek mouth at roughly 2 ft, rated prime for spring white bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (2 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (23 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (19 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Offshore hump (33 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Lake Sakakawea also holds yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), channel catfish (8 to 25 ft in summer), cisco (lake herring) (40 to 80 ft in summer), lake whitefish (40 to 90 ft in summer), burbot (50 to 120 ft in summer), goldeye (2 to 10 ft in summer), freshwater drum (8 to 30 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Lake Sakakawea carries 54 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 123 ft down.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for North Dakota waters are set by the North Dakota Game and Fish — and special regulations can apply to Lake Sakakawea specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official North Dakota fishing regulations →
Lake Sakakawea is about 220 ft (67 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target walleye, chinook salmon, northern pike, sauger, smallmouth bass, white bass, yellow perch, crappie, channel catfish, cisco (lake herring), lake whitefish, burbot, goldeye, freshwater drum, common carp on Lake Sakakawea.
Offshore hump is the top-rated area: an offshore hump in about 33 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Lake Sakakawea is regulated by the North Dakota Game and Fish. Check the official North Dakota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Hiddenwood Lake 24 mi · Makoti Lake 24 mi · Stanley Reservoir 34 mi · Lake Ilo 36 mi · Rice Lake 38 mi · South Carlson Lake 40 mi · Clearwater Lake 41 mi · Harmony Lake 43 mi · Riverdale Spillway Lake 48 mi · White Earth Dam 49 mi · Tioga Dam 50 mi · Powers Lake 52 mi
See how Lake Sakakawea stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in North Dakota · best walleye lakes in North Dakota · best white bass lakes in North Dakota · best northern pike lakes in North Dakota
More water nearby: Mountrail County fishing maps (5 charts). Browse all North Dakota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.