Fishing near Bismarck, ND

Set in Burleigh County along the Missouri River, Bismarck sits where the free-flowing Garrison Reach meets the upper end of Lake Oahe, a 231-mile reservoir stretching south to Pierre. Walleye, northern pike, and channel catfish are caught right at the city's edge, with multiple boat ramps and a paddling corridor through remote prairie sandbar habitat.

Top waters to fish near Bismarck

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are in Bismarck, North Dakota and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

American Eel

Anguilla rostrata

American Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Arctic Grayling

Thymallus arcticus

Bighead Carp

Bigmouth Buffalo

Ictiobus cyprinellus

Black Buffalo

Ictiobus niger

Black Bullhead

Ameiurus melas

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

Blue Sucker

Cycleptus elongatus

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

Brown Trout

Burbot

Lota lota

Channel Catfish

Fishing guides near Bismarck

Book a trip with a local fishing guide through Guidesly.

Hunter Kisner
Legendary Outdoors
Missouri River—Big Fish, Bold Memories
Book on Guidesly, opens in new tab

Fish smarter with real-time insights

Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.