Lake Oahe is the second of North Dakota’s great Missouri River reservoirs – a vast, 231-mile lake that begins just below Bismarck and runs south all the way to Pierre, South Dakota, behind one of the largest dams in the country. The fourth-largest reservoir in the United States, Oahe is a legendary walleye and chinook salmon fishery, and on the North Dakota end it puts world-class fishing within minutes of the state capital.
This guide covers the North Dakota stretch of Lake Oahe: the walleye and salmon fishing, the access around Bismarck-Mandan, the history, and how to plan a trip. It’s part of our growing North Dakota Lakes Database.
- Lake Oahe at a glance
- Fishing Lake Oahe
- Access around Bismarck-Mandan
- History and the river
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Know before you go
- Frequently asked questions
- How big is Lake Oahe?
- What fish are in Lake Oahe?
- Is Lake Oahe in North Dakota or South Dakota?
- Where can you fish Lake Oahe near Bismarck?
- How far is Lake Oahe from Bismarck?
Lake Oahe at a glance
- Surface area: ~370,000 acres total (the North Dakota portion runs from below Bismarck to the SD line)
- Length: ~231 miles, from Bismarck, ND to Pierre, SD – the 4th-largest U.S. reservoir
- Location: south-central North Dakota into South Dakota, on the Missouri River
- Built: Oahe Dam (near Pierre, SD), completed 1962 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- Top fish: walleye, chinook salmon, smallmouth bass, northern pike, sauger, catfish
Fishing Lake Oahe
Oahe is one of the most storied fisheries on the Missouri, and the North Dakota end shares the wealth:
- Walleye – the main event, with a huge population and trophy potential; trolling and pulling spinners over points, flats and the river channel produces all season.
- Chinook salmon – like Sakakawea, Oahe holds a rare inland salmon fishery, with summer trolling deep and a fall run.
- Smallmouth bass on the rocky shorelines, and big northern pike in the bays.
- Sauger and catfish round out the catch, and winter brings excellent ice fishing.
A North Dakota license covers the ND waters; North Dakota and South Dakota share much of the lake, so check the boundary and reciprocity rules. The water is big and open – mind the wind and use a depth finder.
Access around Bismarck-Mandan
What sets the North Dakota end apart is its convenience: the upper lake begins right at the Bismarck-Mandan metro, so boat ramps, marinas and guides are minutes from a city with hotels, restaurants and an airport. Public ramps and recreation areas dot the shore south toward the South Dakota line, and the river-to-reservoir transition near the capital offers shore and boat fishing alike. Farther down, the lake runs through the Standing Rock Reservation; know the rules where tribal waters apply.
History and the river
Oahe is part of the same Pick-Sloan transformation of the Missouri that created Sakakawea, and it carries the same layered history – Lewis & Clark passed through here, and the reservoir flooded bottomlands of the Standing Rock Sioux. The Missouri remains the thread that ties the North Dakota lakes together, from Lake Sakakawea above Bismarck to Oahe below it.
Getting there and what’s nearby
The North Dakota end of Lake Oahe starts right at Bismarck-Mandan, the state capital, with the rest of the lake running south into South Dakota toward Mobridge and Pierre. The capitol, the North Dakota Heritage Center and the Lewis & Clark sites in Bismarck-Mandan make for an easy lake-and-history trip.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a North Dakota license covers ND waters; check ND/SD boundary and reciprocity, and any tribal-water rules near Standing Rock.
- Big water: Oahe is huge and wind-driven – wear a life jacket and watch the forecast.
- Water level: a Missouri River reservoir that moves with drought – check the current Corps level before launching.
- Best seasons: spring through fall for walleye and salmon; winter for ice fishing.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Lake Oahe?
About 370,000 acres and 231 miles long from Bismarck, North Dakota to Pierre, South Dakota – the fourth-largest reservoir in the United States.
What fish are in Lake Oahe?
Walleye (the headliner), chinook salmon, smallmouth bass, northern pike, sauger and catfish.
Is Lake Oahe in North Dakota or South Dakota?
Both – it begins below Bismarck, North Dakota and runs south to Pierre, South Dakota. The two states share much of the water.
Where can you fish Lake Oahe near Bismarck?
The upper lake begins at the Bismarck-Mandan metro, with public ramps, marinas and guides minutes from the city and recreation areas south toward the SD line.
How far is Lake Oahe from Bismarck?
The North Dakota end of the lake starts right at Bismarck-Mandan.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in North Dakota, or head back to the North Dakota Lakes Database.
