Lake Sakakawea
Lake Sakakawea is one of five major lakes created on the Missouri
River by the federal government in an effort to eliminate the annual
flooding of river lowlands. Lake Sakakawea is located in
west-central North Dakota about 50 miles to the North of Bismarck,
ND stretching from the Garrison Dam nearly 150 miles to the Montana
border.
The reservoir was created with the completion of Garrison Dam in
1956, the second (and largest) of six main-stem dams on the Missouri
River built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for
flood control, hydroelectric power, navigation and irrigation.
Lake Sakakawea covers over 365,000 surface acres and has an extended
shoreline of over 1,500 miles. The width of Sakakawea ranges from
one to 14 miles wide with the Van Hook Arm the widest area of the
lake. The lake depth in main channel ranges from 70 to 175 feet with
the deepest portion off the face of Garrison Dam. Because of its
size, Lake Sakakawea offers lots of wide-open area for fishing and
water sports. Sailboat and wind surfers find lots of wind energy to
propel their crafts.
Fishing remains the primary activity on Lake Sakakawea. The big lake
offers a wide-range of sport fishing. Cold water species include
Rainbow, Cutthroat and Brown Trout and Chinook salmon, Smallmouth
Bass, Walleye Sauger and Saugeye. These fish give anglers lots of
action as do the giant northern pike in Sakakawea.
Where We Fish
Rates, Dates & Lodging
What to Bring
