Lake Sakakawea	March 2026
2025 Survey Year   % Fish Per Length (Inches) Weight (Pounds) Variegated Mesh 6' x 250' Catch Net Range Average Range Average Walleye 43.5 35.2 7.1-30.3 15.7 0.1-9.6 1.5 Goldeye 17.1 13.8 5.5-16.5 11.5 0.0-1.4 0.6 Channel Catfish 13.7 11.1 6.7-33.1 17.1 0.1-18.6 1.8 Sauger 5.8 4.7 7.1-20.1 12.8 0.1-2.3 0.6 Freshwater Drum 4.8 3.9 4.7-24.0 13.0 0.0-6.2 1.1 Northern Pike 3.2 2.6 13.0-40.9 27.0 0.4-19.7 5.4 Yellow Perch 2.2 1.8 4.3-9.1 6.6 0.1-0.3 0.1 White Bass 2.0 1.6 6.7-16.5 13.8 0.2-2.0 1.2 Smallmouth Bass 1.8 1.5 6.3-18.9 13.9 0.1-2.9 1.4 Common Carp 1.6 1.3 13.8-25.2 21.4 1.2-7.8 4.5 White Sucker 1.5 1.2 6.3-18.9 14.0 0.1-2.9 1.4 River Carpsucker 0.9 0.7 9.8-24.8 15.2 0.6-10.2 2.2 Smallmouth Buffalo 0.8 0.6 20.9-29.5 24.9 3.9-14.8 8.6 Shorthead Redhorse 0.6 0.5 8.7-21.7 15.0 0.2-3.2 1.5 White Crappie 0.3 0.3 4.3-13.0 6.7 0.0-1.0 0.2 Bigmouth Buffalo 0.1 0.1 22.8-32.7 28.1 7.3-18.0 12.0 Black Crappie < .1 < .1 11.8-13.0 12.6 1.0-1.3 1.1 Black Bullhead < .1 < .1 11.4-11.4 11.4 0.5-0.5 0.5 Shortnose Gar < .1 < .1 19.3-19.3 19.3 0.8-0.8 0.8     2024 Survey Year   % Fish Per Length (Inches) Weight (Pounds) Variegated Mesh 6' x 250' Catch Net Range Average Range Average Walleye 47.8 38.5 7.1-28.7 14.9 0.1-6.4 1.3 Goldeye 14.4 11.6 5.5-16.9 12.7 0.0-1.5 0.7 Sauger 8.8 7.1 7.1-20.9 11.5 0.1-2.3 0.5 Channel Catfish 8.3 6.7 6.3-29.5 18.9 0.1-9.6 2.4 Northern Pike 3.9 3.1 11.8-42.1 25.5 0.3-17.8 4.8 Freshwater Drum 3.7 3.0 5.5-23.2 13.8 0.1-6.2 1.3 Yellow Perch 3.5 2.8 5.1-9.1 6.6 0.1-0.4 0.1 Smallmouth Bass 2.5 2.0 5.5-17.7 14.1 0.1-2.8 1.5 White Sucker 2.3 1.8 6.3-20.1 14.1 0.1-3.2 1.4 White Bass 1.5 1.2 8.3-16.1 13.9 0.2-1.8 1.2 Common Carp 1.3 1.0 12.2-27.2 22.5 0.9-8.3 5.1 Shorthead Redhorse 0.8 0.7 5.9-20.1 13.0 0.1-3.4 1.2 River Carpsucker 0.6 0.5 10.2-25.6 15.9 0.6-10.1 2.6 Bigmouth Buffalo 0.2 0.1 25.2-33.9 28.4 8.2-15.4 12.1 Smallmouth Buffalo 0.2 0.1 20.5-28.0 25.1 5.5-13.5 9.3 White Crappie 0.1 0.1 5.1-14.2 11.1 0.0-1.2 0.8 Cisco 0.1 < .1 8.3-15.7 10.3 0.2-1.2 0.7 Black Crappie < .1 < .1 7.5-11.4 9.7 0.2-0.7 0.5 Brown Trout < .1 < .1 7.9-7.9 7.9 0.2-0.2 0.2 Lake Whitefish < .1 < .1 20.9-20.9 20.9 3.2-3.2 3.2 Saugeye < .1 < .1 9.4-9.4 9.4 0.2-0.2 0.2     2023 Survey Year   % Fish Per Length (Inches) Weight (Pounds) Variegated Mesh 6' x 250' Catch Net Range Average Range Average Walleye 44.4 29.3 5.9-29.5 15.3 0.1-8.4 1.4 Goldeye 15.0 9.9 5.5-16.5 11.5 0.1-1.5 0.6 Channel Catfish 12.0 7.9 6.7-27.6 18.9 0.1-7.3 2.2 Sauger 5.8 3.9 6.3-19.7 11.4 0.1-2.2 0.5 Yellow Perch 4.9 3.2 5.1-9.1 6.7 0.0-0.4 0.1 Freshwater Drum 3.6 2.4 5.1-22.4 13.3 0.0-3.8 1.2 Northern Pike 2.9 1.9 13.0-42.1 30.0 0.7-18.2 7.0 Smallmouth Bass 2.0 1.3 8.3-18.1 13.8 0.2-2.5 1.4 White Bass 2.0 1.3 5.1-16.1 13.5 0.0-1.8 1.2 River Carpsucker 2.0 1.3 5.5-24.0 13.1 0.1-7.3 1.6 White Sucker 1.9 1.3 6.3-19.3 14.2 0.1-2.6 1.3 Common Carp 1.2 0.8 5.9-27.6 21.9 0.1-8.3 4.9 Shorthead Redhorse 1.1 0.7 5.9-21.3 14.0 0.1-3.2 1.3 Smallmouth Buffalo 0.6 0.4 13.0-30.3 26.0 1.4-15.2 10.6 White Crappie 0.3 0.2 4.7-13.4 11.3 0.1-1.2 0.7 Cisco 0.2 0.2 13.4-16.5 15.1 0.9-1.5 1.1 Bigmouth Buffalo 0.1 < .1 31.5-34.6 32.8 17.8-19.8 18.8 Chinook Salmon < .1 < .1 22.0-22.0 22.0 4.0-4.0 4.0 Lake Whitefish < .1 < .1 20.5-20.5 20.5 3.9-3.9 3.9 Paddlefish < .1 < .1         2022 Survey Year   % Fish Per Length (Inches) Weight (Pounds) Variegated Mesh 6' x 250' Catch Net Range Average Range Average Walleye 51.2 35.7 6.7-29.5 15.9 0.1-8.6 1.6 Channel Catfish 11.6 8.1 6.3-28.7 19.5 0.1-9.7 2.5 Goldeye 10.8 7.6 5.5-18.9 11.9 0.1-1.5 0.7 Sauger 4.5 3.1 8.3-22.0 13.6 0.1-2.8 0.8 Freshwater Drum 4.2 2.9 4.7-24.0 14.4 0.0-6.9 1.4 Northern Pike 4.1 2.8 16.9-44.5 27.9 0.9-21.9 5.6 Yellow Perch 2.8 1.9 5.1-9.1 6.5 0.0-0.4 0.1 Common Carp 2.2 1.6 17.3-27.6 22.2 2.6-8.9 4.9 Smallmouth Bass 2.1 1.5 8.3-18.5 13.4 0.2-2.6 1.2 White Sucker 1.9 1.4 6.3-19.7 14.1 0.1-3.2 1.4 White Bass 1.7 1.2 5.5-16.1 13.7 0.1-1.8 1.1 Shorthead Redhorse 1.0 0.7 5.5-20.9 17.1 0.1-3.5 2.0 River Carpsucker 1.0 0.7 5.9-22.8 15.8 0.1-5.4 2.4 Smallmouth Buffalo 0.3 0.2 11.0-28.7 25.3 0.8-13.3 9.7 White Crappie 0.3 0.2 10.6-12.6 11.9 0.7-1.0 0.8 Bigmouth Buffalo 0.1 < .1 25.6-33.9 29.7 9.7-9.7 9.7 Chinook Salmon 0.1 < .1 9.1-23.2 16.0 1.3-4.4 2.8 Lake Whitefish < .1 < .1 13.8-13.8 13.8 1.0-1.0 1.0 Black Bullhead < .1 < .1     Black Crappie < .1 < .1 9.8-9.8 9.8 0.6-0.6 0.6 Cisco < .1 < .1 12.2-12.2 12.2 0.6-0.6 0.6 Paddlefish < .1 < .1         2021 Survey Year   % Fish Per Length (Inches) Weight (Pounds) Variegated Mesh 6' x 250' Catch Net Range Average Range Average Walleye 42.7 32.3 6.7-29.1 15.1 0.1-8.4 1.4 Goldeye 20.3 15.4 5.5-16.5 12.3 0.1-1.5 0.7 Channel Catfish 14.3 10.8 5.9-33.9 18.8 0.1-16.4 2.2 Northern Pike 4.1 3.1 15.0-41.3 26.4 0.8-16.7 4.8 Freshwater Drum 3.8 2.9 5.5-21.3 14.1 0.0-4.0 1.3 Yellow Perch 2.9 2.2 5.1-9.1 6.9 0.1-0.4 0.2 Sauger 2.7 2.1 7.5-20.1 12.9 0.1-2.1 0.6 White Sucker 2.5 1.9 6.3-19.3 14.7 0.1-3.0 1.6 White Bass 2.0 1.5 5.1-20.5 13.6 0.1-2.2 1.2 Common Carp 1.4 1.1 16.1-28.0 21.6 1.8-10.0 5.0 Smallmouth Bass 1.2 0.9 5.5-18.5 13.0 0.1-2.8 1.2 Smallmouth Buffalo 0.6 0.5 10.2-29.9 24.2 0.7-15.0 8.5 Shorthead Redhorse 0.6 0.4 9.4-21.7 16.9 0.3-4.0 2.1 River Carpsucker 0.3 0.3 5.1-23.2 16.8 0.1-6.2 3.0 Bigmouth Buffalo 0.2 0.1 16.5-35.0 25.2 2.9-14.7 9.1 Black Crappie 0.1 0.1 4.3-12.2 9.2 0.1-0.9 0.5 White Crappie 0.1 0.1 4.7-11.8 7.6 0.0-0.8 0.3 Cisco 0.1 < .1 14.6-16.9 15.7 0.9-1.3 1.2 Paddlefish < .1 < .1 36.0-36.0 36.0 0.0-0.0 0.0 Pallid Sturgeon < .1 < .1 21.7-21.7 21.7 1.0-1.0 1.0     2020 Survey Year   % Fish Per Length (Inches) Weight (Pounds) Variegated Mesh 6' x 250' Catch Net Range Average Range Average Walleye 41.8 31.3 6.7-28.7 14.7 0.1-10.2 1.4 Goldeye 16.4 12.3 5.5-16.9 12.9 0.1-1.5 0.8 Channel Catfish 12.2 9.1 9.8-30.3 19.1 0.3-10.2 2.3 Freshwater Drum 5.3 4.0 10.6-22.0 14.1 0.4-6.0 1.3 Northern Pike 4.7 3.5 10.2-45.3 26.8 0.2-21.4 5.1 Sauger 3.9 2.9 8.3-19.7 12.1 0.1-2.4 0.5 Yellow Perch 3.7 2.7 5.1-9.1 6.6 0.1-0.3 0.1 White Sucker 2.8 2.1 6.3-19.7 13.8 0.1-2.9 1.4 Smallmouth Bass 2.6 2.0 5.9-18.9 12.7 0.1-2.9 1.1 Common Carp 2.2 1.7 12.2-26.8 21.4 1.0-8.5 4.7 White Bass 2.2 1.6 7.5-15.7 13.7 0.2-1.8 1.1 Shorthead Redhorse 0.9 0.7 8.7-21.3 16.7 0.2-4.1 2.0 Smallmouth Buffalo 0.4 0.3 16.9-30.3 25.5 2.5-17.1 9.6 White Crappie 0.4 0.3 10.2-13.0 11.7 0.5-0.9 0.7 River Carpsucker 0.2 0.2 13.0-24.8 19.4 1.1-7.9 4.1 Black Crappie 0.1 0.1 5.9-12.6 10.3 0.1-1.0 0.6 Cisco 0.1 0.1 13.8-15.4 14.6 0.9-1.2 1.1 Paddlefish 0.1 < .1 34.0-34.0 34.0   Bigmouth Buffalo < .1 < .1 28.0-28.0 28.0 11.7-11.7 11.7 Shovelnose Sturgeon < .1 < .1 21.3-21.3 21.3       2019 Survey Year   % Fish Per Length (Inches) Weight (Pounds) Variegated Mesh 6' x 250' Catch Net Range Average Range Average Walleye 50.2 41.8 6.7-29.5 15.5 0.1-9.0 1.5 Goldeye 9.3 7.8 5.5-17.7 12.9 0.1-1.7 0.8 Sauger 7.4 6.2 7.5-20.9 12.5 0.1-2.6 0.6 Channel Catfish 7.1 5.9 9.8-32.7 19.6 0.2-13.5 2.6 Yellow Perch 5.5 4.5 5.1-9.1 6.4 0.1-0.3 0.1 Northern Pike 4.5 3.7 10.2-44.5 27.3 0.2-21.2 5.3 Freshwater Drum 3.7 3.0 5.1-20.5 13.2 0.0-4.0 1.1 Smallmouth Bass 2.9 2.4 5.9-18.5 13.2 0.1-2.9 1.3 White Bass 2.7 2.3 6.7-16.5 13.6 0.1-1.9 1.1 White Sucker 2.3 1.9 6.3-19.3 13.8 0.1-3.1 1.4 Common Carp 1.9 1.6 10.6-26.8 22.6 0.6-9.0 5.2 Shorthead Redhorse 1.1 0.9 7.5-20.9 15.7 0.2-3.6 1.8 Smallmouth Buffalo 0.4 0.3 20.5-31.9 26.1 4.6-17.1 10.4 White Crappie 0.3 0.3 6.7-12.6 10.6 0.1-0.9 0.6 Cisco 0.3 0.2 13.0-16.9 14.8 0.7-1.8 1.2 River Carpsucker 0.2 0.2 11.4-23.2 18.6 0.8-7.2 3.8 Bigmouth Buffalo < .1 < .1 26.0-33.5 29.5 8.9-13.7 11.3 Paddlefish < .1 < .1 37.0-40.0 38.5   Pallid Sturgeon < .1 < .1 16.5-17.7 17.1   Saugeye < .1 < .1 11.4-16.9 14.2 0.4-1.2 0.8 Black Bullhead < .1 < .1 6.7-6.7 6.7 0.2-0.2 0.2 Lake Whitefish < .1 < .1 16.5-16.5 16.5 2.0-2.0 2.0 Shovelnose Sturgeon < .1 < .1 24.4-24.4 24.4       2018 Survey Year   % Fish Per Length (Inches) Weight (Pounds) Variegated Mesh 6' x 250' Catch Net Range Average Range Average Walleye 55.7 42.2 5.5-29.5 16.3 0.1-9.2 1.7 Goldeye 7.4 5.6 5.5-16.9 12.7 0.1-1.4 0.7 Channel Catfish 7.2 5.5 8.3-31.9 18.9 0.1-7.5 2.2 Northern Pike 4.5 3.4 10.2-40.6 27.2 0.2-17.0 5.2 Sauger 4.5 3.4 7.1-21.3 11.8 0.1-2.6 0.5 Freshwater Drum 4.3 3.3 6.3-19.7 12.9 0.1-3.5 1.1 Yellow Perch 3.7 2.8 4.7-9.4 7.0 0.1-0.4 0.2 Smallmouth Bass 3.4 2.6 5.1-20.1 12.8 0.1-5.4 1.2 White Bass 2.7 2.0 4.7-16.5 13.6 0.0-2.1 1.2 Common Carp 2.0 1.5 18.5-28.3 22.3 2.9-9.1 4.9 Shorthead Redhorse 1.8 1.3 6.3-20.9 15.7 0.1-3.5 1.7 White Sucker 1.4 1.1 5.9-18.9 14.4 0.1-2.7 1.4 River Carpsucker 0.9 0.7 9.8-23.2 17.3 0.5-5.6 3.0 White Crappie 0.3 0.2 7.9-12.2 10.9 0.2-0.8 0.6 Smallmouth Buffalo 0.2 0.1 11.8-29.1 21.3 0.9-14.0 6.1 Bigmouth Buffalo < .1 < .1 26.4-30.3 28.3 12.4-15.9 14.1     2017 Survey Year   % Fish Per Length (Inches) Weight (Pounds) Variegated Mesh 6' x 250' Catch Net Range Average Range Average Walleye 55.0 43.0 7.1-29.5 16.0 0.0-10.3 1.6 Goldeye 11.2 8.7 5.5-16.9 11.0 0.1-1.4 0.5 Channel Catfish 7.1 5.6 7.1-30.3 18.1 0.1-10.9 2.0 Freshwater Drum 5.0 3.9 4.7-23.2 12.0 0.0-6.2 0.9 Northern Pike 5.0 3.9 9.8-42.9 26.7 0.3-18.3 5.0 Sauger 3.6 2.8 6.7-22.4 14.3 0.1-3.3 0.9 Yellow Perch 3.6 2.8 5.1-9.4 6.3 0.1-0.4 0.1 White Bass 2.5 1.9 5.5-16.9 13.1 0.1-2.2 1.1 White Sucker 1.7 1.4 8.7-18.9 15.1 0.3-2.7 1.5 Smallmouth Bass 1.6 1.3 6.3-17.7 14.3 0.1-2.7 1.6 Common Carp 1.6 1.3 17.7-27.6 22.2 2.8-9.1 5.0 Shorthead Redhorse 0.9 0.7 8.3-19.3 14.9 0.2-3.0 1.5 White Crappie 0.7 0.5 4.3-12.6 9.5 0.0-0.9 0.5 Cisco 0.2 0.1 13.4-16.5 15.7 0.9-1.5 1.2 River Carpsucker 0.1 0.1 11.8-24.8 19.7 1.0-10.3 4.8 Smallmouth Buffalo 0.1 0.1 23.2-30.7 25.9 6.9-15.9 10.3 Chinook Salmon < .1 < .1 17.3-17.3 17.3 1.6-1.6 1.6 Pallid Sturgeon < .1 < .1 22.4-22.4 22.4 0.8-0.8 0.8 Paddlefish < .1 < .1     Shovelnose Sturgeon < .1 < .1 29.9-29.9 29.9 3.1-3.1 3.1     2016 Survey Year   % Fish Per Length (Inches) Weight (Pounds) Variegated Mesh 6' x 250' Catch Net Range Average Range Average Walleye 53.4 40.8 7.1-29.1 15.6 0.1-8.8 1.6 Goldeye 9.9 7.6 5.1-17.3 11.6 0.0-2.0 0.6 Channel Catfish 8.9 6.8 7.9-30.7 18.2 0.1-10.3 2.0 Northern Pike 6.5 5.0 13.8-41.3 26.8 0.8-18.3 5.4 Sauger 4.1 3.2 7.9-20.9 13.2 0.1-2.8 0.7 Freshwater Drum 3.7 2.8 4.3-20.9 11.3 0.0-4.0 0.9 Yellow Perch 2.6 2.0 5.1-8.3 6.1 0.1-0.3 0.1 White Sucker 2.4 1.9 5.9-18.5 13.8 0.1-2.8 1.3 White Bass 2.1 1.6 4.7-16.5 11.8 0.1-2.1 1.0 Smallmouth Bass 1.8 1.4 7.9-16.9 14.1 0.2-3.0 1.5 Common Carp 1.5 1.1 5.1-25.6 21.0 0.1-8.7 4.6 White Crappie 1.4 1.1 4.3-13.0 6.4 0.0-1.1 0.2 Shorthead Redhorse 0.7 0.6 12.2-20.9 16.5 0.6-3.5 1.8 Cisco 0.3 0.3 15.0-17.7 16.4 0.9-1.8 1.2 Smallmouth Buffalo 0.2 0.2 11.0-27.6 21.6 0.7-14.2 7.3 River Carpsucker 0.1 0.1 7.9-22.0 16.1 0.2-5.6 3.0 Black Crappie 0.1 0.1 4.3-11.8 8.1 0.0-1.0 0.4 Bigmouth Buffalo < .1 < .1 19.7-30.7 26.9 4.6-21.4 15.0 Chinook Salmon < .1 < .1 6.7-6.7 6.7 0.1-0.1 0.1 Paddlefish < .1 < .1 47.2-47.2 47.2 0.0-0.0 0.0 Pallid Sturgeon < .1 < .1 15.4-15.4 15.4   Saugeye < .1 < .1 19.3-19.3 19.3 2.1-2.1 2.1     2015 Survey Year   % Fish Per Length (Inches) Weight (Pounds) Variegated Mesh 6' x 250' Catch Net Range Average Range Average Walleye 39.2 30.0 6.7-28.7 14.8 0.1-7.9 1.4 Goldeye 15.2 11.7 5.5-16.9 11.8 0.1-1.6 0.6 Channel Catfish 14.3 11.0 6.7-29.1 18.0 0.1-11.3 1.9 Northern Pike 6.3 4.8 11.4-41.7 24.6 0.3-18.5 4.3 Yellow Perch 5.6 4.3 5.5-8.7 6.4 0.1-0.3 0.1 Freshwater Drum 3.9 3.0 5.1-20.5 12.9 0.1-3.6 1.1 Sauger 3.5 2.7 7.5-20.1 12.7 0.1-2.5 0.6 White Sucker 2.7 2.1 5.9-18.1 14.6 0.1-2.6 1.4 Common Carp 2.6 2.0 14.2-26.8 20.6 1.2-8.5 4.1 Smallmouth Bass 2.4 1.8 6.3-17.3 13.7 0.1-2.9 1.4 White Bass 1.4 1.1 10.6-16.9 12.7 0.5-2.4 1.0 Shorthead Redhorse 0.9 0.7 7.5-18.9 14.8 0.2-2.6 1.4 Smallmouth Buffalo 0.6 0.5 5.9-31.9 22.2 0.1-17.9 7.9 River Carpsucker 0.6 0.5 10.2-22.8 16.1 0.5-6.8 2.6 White Crappie 0.6 0.4 4.3-13.0 9.3 0.0-1.0 0.4 Black Crappie 0.1 0.1 9.4-15.7 10.9 0.4-1.7 0.7 Cisco 0.1 0.1 10.2-16.5 13.3 0.6-1.4 1.1 Bigmouth Buffalo < .1 < .1 26.8-28.7 27.7 11.7-14.1 13.2 Saugeye < .1 < .1 13.4-21.7 17.5 0.7-3.6 2.2 Rainbow Trout < .1 < .1 21.7-21.7 21.7 4.3-4.3 4.3 Spottail Shiner < .1 < .1 14.2-14.2 14.2 1.2-1.2 1.2