The Souris River flows through the north-central part of North Dakota, creating a distinctive loop as it enters from Saskatchewan, curves through Bottineau, McHenry, Renville, and Ward Counties, and returns to Canada before eventually reaching Lake Winnipeg. Also known locally as the Mouse River, this waterway provides diverse fishing opportunities throughout its length, with conditions varying from free-flowing river sections to areas influenced by Lake Darling Dam within the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge. The river courses through a landscape of ground-moraine plains at elevations ranging from approximately 1,410 feet at the International Boundary to around 2,500 feet in the upland areas. The river and its associated impoundments support healthy populations of gamefish, with the Upper Souris refuge area featuring one of the finest fisheries in the region, particularly where Lake Darling Dam creates a 9,600-acre reservoir.