North Dakota Game and Fish Lake Overview

Lake Detail


Lake Overview:
Missouri River 
1,650.5 msl
View on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab
Map View  - Opens a New Tab
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:

Lake Access Sites:
Garrison Dam Tailrace (Mercer County)   
Directly below Garrison Dam (Paved access road, fish cleaning facility, developed camping, security lights, trash receptacles)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  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)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  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)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Usable

    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)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  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)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  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)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  Main Ramp: Revamp Boat Ramp: Call managing entity for status

    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)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  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)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  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)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  Main Ramp: Poured Concrete Ramp: Marginal - Use Caution

    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)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  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)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  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)
   View Location on Google Maps - Opens a New Tab  Main Ramp: Ramp, Extension: Usable

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

Cleaning Stations:
View Location on Google Maps Fish Cleaning Station (Garrison Dam Tailrace)

View Location on Google Maps Fish Cleaning Station (Washburn)

View Location on Google Maps Fish Cleaning Station (Kniefel (Misty Waters) Landing)

View Location on Google Maps Fish Cleaning Station (Kniefel (Misty Waters) Landing) - Handicap Accessible: Yes - Assistance Required

View Location on Google Maps Fish Cleaning Station (Graner Bottoms (Sugar Loaf))

Piers:
View Location on Google Maps Floating Fishing Pier (Washburn) - Handicap Accessible: Yes - Assistance Required

Shore Fishing Access:
View Location on Google Maps Ft Mandan and Fahlgren Park State Recreation Area - Parking and walking access to shoreline

View Location on Google Maps Huff Bluffs - Parking and walking access to shoreline. Steep bank.

View Location on Google Maps McLean Bottoms - Downstream area - Parking and walking access to shoreline

View Location on Google Maps Bernie's Banks - Parking and walking access to shoreline. Steep bank.

View Location on Google Maps Missouri River State Natural Area - Parking at North end of MRSNA, with extensive trail access to shoreline

View Location on Google Maps Steamboat Park - Parking and walking access to shoreline

View Location on Google Maps Lewis and Clark WMA - Driving access through WMA to parking near river. Short, steep walk to shoreline.

View Location on Google Maps Wingwalls - Parking and walking access to wingwalls

View Location on Google Maps Tailrace Boat Ramp - Parking and walking access to shoreline

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

View Location on Google Maps Downstream Camping area - Multiple parking areas and walking paths. Expect to walk 200 yards or more to water.

View Location on Google Maps Spillway Park - Parking and walking access to multiple locations

View Location on Google Maps Stanton UPA boat ramp area - Parking and walking access to shoreline

View Location on Google Maps Washburn boat ramp and park - Driving access along Boat Ramp Drive. Multiple parking and shoreline access points.

View Location on Google Maps Cross Ranch/Sanger area - Multiple parking and walking access areas.

View Location on Google Maps Double Ditch - Parking and walking access to shoreline. Established trail is short but steep.

View Location on Google Maps Hoge Island - Parking and walking access to shoreline

View Location on Google Maps Kneifel Landing - Parking and walking access to shoreline

View Location on Google Maps Heskett Plant - Parking and staircase provides access to shoreline

View Location on Google Maps Richard M Longfellow Veterans Memorial Park - Parking and walking access to shoreline

View Location on Google Maps Fox Island - Parking and walking access to shoreline

View Location on Google Maps Fort Lincoln State Park - Parking and walking access to shoreline. State park fees may apply.

View Location on Google Maps Little Heart Bottoms - Multiple parking and walking access areas.

View Location on Google Maps Apple Creek WMA - Parking and walking access to shoreline

View Location on Google Maps Kimball Bottoms - Multiple parking and walking access areas.

View Location on Google Maps Graner Bottoms - Multiple parking and walking access areas.