Lake Details

Lake Overview:

Missouri River

1,649.9 msl

Directions:
Missouri River from near Riverdale to south of Bismarck

Walleye reproductive success has been good to excellent in recent years, but forage for these fish has been in short supply. Small walleye are abundant, but tend to be in poor condition and slow growing. However, this fishery continues to provide opportunity for trophy-sized fish. The Garrison Dam Tailrace continues to maintain a diverse quality fishery, especially for walleye, brown trout, rainbow trout and salmon. Channel catfish are abundant and underutilized throughout the entire reach.

Sport Fish:
Northern Pike, Walleye, Sauger, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Bluegill, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Black Bullhead, Lake Whitefish, Cisco, Chinook Salmon, Paddlefish, Burbot (Ling), Goldeye, Bigmouth Buffalo, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Yellow Perch, White Crappie, Black Crappie, Shortnose Gar, Smallmouth Buffalo

Reports:

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Stocking Report - Opens a New Tab

Survey Report - Opens a New Tab

Length Table - Opens a New Tab

Length Chart - Opens a New tab

Lake Access Sites:

Garrison Dam Tailrace (Mercer County)

Directly below Garrison Dam (Paved access road, fish cleaning facility, developed camping, security lights, trash receptacles)

Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Usable

Managed By: US Army Corps of Engineers Contact: Nathan Busche Phone: 701-654-7411 ext.7757

UPA Site (Stanton) (Mercer County)

Just west of UPA Power Plant on ND Highway 200A near Stanton (Paved access road, security lights, trash receptacles)

Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Usable

Managed By: City Of Stanton Contact: Nick Chapman Phone: 701-745-3395

Washburn (McLean County)

On east side of the Missouri River near Washburn, north of ND Highway 200A bridge (Paved access road, fish cleaning facility, primitive camping, security lights, trash receptacles, rv dump station, fishing pier)

Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Marginal - Use Caution

Managed By: Washburn City Park Board Contact: Adam Thomas Phone: 701-315-0012

Sanger (Cross Ranch) (Oliver County)

Just east of Sanger townsite on west side of Missouri River (Gravel access road, primitive camping, picnic shelter, trash receptacles)

Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Usable

Managed By: ND Parks and Recreation Contact: Terry Mitchell Phone: 701-794-3731

Steckel Boat Landing (Wilton) (Burleigh County)

22 miles north of Bismarck on ND Highway 1804, or 5.5 miles west, 1 mile south, and 1.5 miles west of junction of U.S. Highway 83 and ND Highway 36 (Paved access road, primitive camping, picnic shelter, trash receptacles)

Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Usable

Managed By: Bismarck Parks and Recreation Contact: Dave Mayer Phone: 701-222-6464

Hoge Landing (Burleigh County)

On east side of the Missouri River near Bismarck, 6.4 miles north of I-94 bridge on River Road, then .7 miles west and 1.5 miles south/southwest (Gravel access road, picnic shelter, trash receptacles)

Main Ramp: Revamp Boat Ramp: Usable

Managed By: Bismarck Parks and Recreation Contact: Dave Mayer Phone: 701-222-6464

Kniefel (Misty Waters) Landing (Burleigh County)

On east side of the Missouri River near Bismarck, 3 miles north of I-94 bridge on River Road, then 1 mile west (Paved access road, fish cleaning facility, security lights, picnic shelter, trash receptacles, concession)

Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Usable

Managed By: Bismarck Parks and Recreation Contact: Dave Mayer Phone: 701-222-6464

Grant Marsh Bridge (Burleigh County)

On east side of the Missouri River near Bismarck, south side of the I-94 bridge on River Road (Paved access road, security lights, trash receptacles)

Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Usable

Managed By: Bismarck Parks and Recreation Contact: Dave Mayer Phone: 701-222-6464

Fox Island Park (Burleigh County)

From Washington Street, .75 miles west on Riverwood Drive (1 block south of Expressway), 1.5 miles south and .5 miles west (Paved access road, fish cleaning facility, security lights, trash receptacles)

Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Usable

Managed By: Bismarck Parks and Recreation Contact: Dave Mayer Phone: 701-222-6464

Little Heart Bottoms (Schmidt) (Morton County)

11 miles south of Mandan on ND Highway 1806, then 1 mile north (Paved access road, trash receptacles)

Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Usable

Managed By: Morton County Park Board Contact: Tim Nilsen Phone: 701-667-3363

Kimball Bottoms (Desert) (Burleigh County)

8 miles south of Bismarck on ND Highway 1804, then 2 miles south (Paved access road, primitive camping, picnic shelter, trash receptacles)

Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Usable

Managed By: Bismarck Parks and Recreation Contact: Dave Mayer Phone: 701-222-6464

Graner Bottoms (Sugar Loaf) (Morton County)

19 miles south of Mandan on ND Highway 1806, then 1 mile east, or about 3 miles north of Huff (Paved access road, fish cleaning facility, developed and primitive camping, security lights, picnic shelter, trash receptacles, rv dump station)

Main Ramp: Ramp, Extension: Usable

Managed By: Morton County Park Board Contact: Tim Nilsen Phone: 701-667-3363

Cleaning Stations:

Fish Cleaning Station (Garrison Dam Tailrace)

Fish Cleaning Station (Washburn)

Fish Cleaning Station (Kniefel (Misty Waters) Landing)

Fish Cleaning Station (Kniefel (Misty Waters) Landing) - Handicap Accessible: Yes - Assistance Required

Fish Cleaning Station (Graner Bottoms (Sugar Loaf))

Piers:

Floating Fishing Pier (Washburn) - Handicap Accessible: Yes - Assistance Required

Shore Fishing Access:

Ft Mandan and Fahlgren Park State Recreation Area - Parking and walking access to shoreline

Huff Bluffs - Parking and walking access to shoreline. Steep bank.

McLean Bottoms - Downstream area - Parking and walking access to shoreline

Bernie's Banks - Parking and walking access to shoreline. Steep bank.

Missouri River State Natural Area - Parking at North end of MRSNA, with extensive trail access to shoreline

Steamboat Park - Parking and walking access to shoreline

Lewis and Clark WMA - Driving access through WMA to parking near river. Short, steep walk to shoreline.

Wingwalls - Parking and walking access to wingwalls

Tailrace Boat Ramp - Parking and walking access to shoreline

Chutes Shoreline - Parking and walking access for able-bodied anglers over extensive rip-rap on East and West banks of river

Downstream Camping area - Multiple parking areas and walking paths. Expect to walk 200 yards or more to water.

Spillway Park - Parking and walking access to multiple locations

Stanton UPA boat ramp area - Parking and walking access to shoreline

Washburn boat ramp and park - Driving access along Boat Ramp Drive. Multiple parking and shoreline access points.

Cross Ranch/Sanger area - Multiple parking and walking access areas.

Double Ditch - Parking and walking access to shoreline. Established trail is short but steep.

Hoge Island - Parking and walking access to shoreline

Kneifel Landing - Parking and walking access to shoreline

Heskett Plant - Parking and staircase provides access to shoreline

Richard M Longfellow Veterans Memorial Park - Parking and walking access to shoreline

Fox Island - Parking and walking access to shoreline

Fort Lincoln State Park - Parking and walking access to shoreline. State park fees may apply.

Little Heart Bottoms - Multiple parking and walking access areas.

Apple Creek WMA - Parking and walking access to shoreline

Kimball Bottoms - Multiple parking and walking access areas.

Graner Bottoms - Multiple parking and walking access areas.

North Dakota Game and Fish Lake Overview