Seasons & Limits
Open Areas and Season Dates
ALL WATERS of the state are open to fishing year-round except below.
| |
| Area | Season |
|---|---|
| OWLS Pond, State Fair Pond | Closed to fishing at night (sunset to sunrise). |
| Lightning Lake | Closed to all ice fishing. Open to all open-water fishing. |
| Portions or all of the following waterfowl rest area: Sheyenne Lake | Closed to all fishing September 20 through ice up. Open to all fishing all other times. |
| All national wildlife refuges and easement national wildlife refuges are closed to fishing except the following (contact refuge headquarters for designated open areas and special restrictions): | |
| Arrowwood, J. Clark Salyer, Lake Darling (and all waters within the Upper Souris refuge boundary), Lake Ilo, Long Lake and Tewaukon national wildlife refuges | Open to shore and/or ice fishing April 1 through March 31 in designated areas. Open to boat fishing May 1 through September 30 in designated areas. Closed to all boating October 1 through April 30. |
| Lake Alice and Lake Audubon (southern half of lake) national wildlife refuges | Open to ice fishing only. Closed to all other fishing and all boating. |
| Dakota Lake, Hobart Lake, Lake Ardoch, Rose Lake, Sibley Lake (Griggs Co), and Silver Lake (Benson Co) | Open to all fishing from April 1 through March 31 of each fishing year. Boat fishing may be restricted at certain times of the year. Contact refuges for specific areas and times open to boat fishing. |
Statewide Daily and Possession Limits
| Species | Daily Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, Sauger, Saugeye or Combination (a) | 5 | 10 |
| Northern Pike | 5 | 10 |
| Yellow Perch | 20 | 40 |
| White Bass | 20 | 40 |
| Bluegill | 10 | 20 |
| Crappie | 10 | 20 |
| Trout | 3 | 6 |
| Salmon | 5 | 10 |
| Burbot (Ling) | 10 | 20 |
| Channel Catfish East of ND Hwy. 1 (b) | 5 | 5 |
| Channel Catfish West of ND Hwy. 1 | no limit | no limit |
| Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass or Combination | 5 | 10 |
| Muskellunge (pure or hybrid) | 1 | 1 |
| Paddlefish | See Paddlefish Snagging | |
| Nongame Fish (other than legal live baitfish) | no limit | no limit |
| Legal Live Baitfish (c) | 150 | 150 |
| Leeches | 300 | 300 |
| Smelt | 5 gallons | 5 gallons |
| Frogs | 50 | 50 |
| Salamanders | 50 | 50 |
| Crayfish | 50 | 50 |
| Snapping Turtle (d) | One annually | |
| a–Zander are included as part of the walleye, sauger, saugeye combination in Spiritwood and Alkali lakes (Stutsman Co.). b–In the Red and Bois de Sioux rivers, the limit is 5 catfish regardless of the number of state or provincial licenses purchased by the angler. c–Aggregate of all legal species. d–Harvest legal only between July 1 and November 15. | ||
Exceptions to Statewide Fish Limits
| Water | Exception |
|---|---|
| Red and Bois de Sioux rivers up to the first vehicular bridge or crossing on any of their tributaries | NORTHERN PIKE – Daily 3, Possession 3 WALLEYE, SAUGER, SAUGEYE OR COMBINATION – Daily 3, Possession 3 |
| Kraft Slough | YELLOW PERCH – Daily 10, Possession 20 |
| Lightning Lake | TROUT – Catch-and-release only from April 1 through June 30 |
| McDowell Dam | ALL SPECIES – Catch-and-release only while ice fishing |
| OWLS Pond | ALL SPECIES – Catch-and-release only |
| State Fair Pond | ALL SPECIES – Catch-and-release only from April 1 through July 31 |
