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Fishing Missouri River: what the data says
Garrison Dam tailrace to Bismarck The river tops out around 31 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Walleye fishing at Missouri River
Spring walleye on Missouri River hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 9 to 31 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 31 ft. The spot to know is Channel bar / point (mile 6.2), a point in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 9 to 31 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Sauger fishing at Missouri River
In spring, sauger run shallow here, mostly 4 to 18 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 31 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 23 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft | dusk & dawn | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | dusk | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Northern Pike fishing at Missouri River
Spring northern pike on Missouri River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 8 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Channel bar / point (mile 6.2), a point in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Missouri River
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 31 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 23 ft that scores prime in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Missouri River
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 31 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Channel bar / point (mile 6.2): a point around 12 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Missouri River
Spring rainbow trout on Missouri River hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 31 ft. Current seam (mile 2.5) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 17 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 6 to 31 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Missouri River also holds brown trout (9 to 31 ft in summer), burbot (9 to 31 ft in summer), chinook salmon (9 to 31 ft in summer), white bass (8 to 25 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), cisco (lake herring) (9 to 31 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer), freshwater drum (8 to 30 ft in summer), goldeye (2 to 10 ft in summer), lake whitefish (9 to 31 ft in summer), largemouth bass (8 to 20 ft in summer), yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Main-channel hole (mile 8.1): creek channel, around 25 ft
- Main-channel hole (mile 31.7): creek channel, around 25 ft
- Main-channel hole (mile 46.6): creek channel, around 25 ft
- Main-channel hole (mile 76.4): creek channel, around 25 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 9.9): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 21.7): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 23.6): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 25.8): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 28.0): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 35.4): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 37.3): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 54.1): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 57.8): creek channel, around 23 ft
Common questions
How deep is Missouri River?
Missouri River is about 31 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Missouri River?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, sauger, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, yellow perch, freshwater drum, common carp, chinook salmon, brown trout, lake whitefish, burbot, cisco (lake herring), goldeye on Missouri River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Missouri River?
Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for sauger in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Missouri River?
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.
Nearby waters
Nelson Lake · Harmon Lake · Sweet Briar Lake · Coal Lake · West Park Lake · Riverdale Spillway Lake
See how Missouri River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in North Dakota · best smallmouth bass lakes in North Dakota · best walleye lakes in North Dakota · best white bass lakes in North Dakota
Browse all North Dakota fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.