When is northern pike season in North Dakota?

North Dakota keeps northern pike open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the North Dakota bag limit for northern pike?

The North Dakota daily bag limit for northern pike is 5 / day per angler statewide (10 possession); 3 / day, 3 possession on the Red + Bois de Sioux boundary rivers and their tributaries up to the first vehicular crossing. The possession limit is 10 in possession statewide; 3 in possession on the Red + Bois de Sioux rivers. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size northern pike can you keep in North Dakota?

The North Dakota size rule for northern pike is No statewide minimum length. Trophy rule: Lake Sakakawea trophy northern pike — ND state-record 37 lb 8 oz Sakakawea 1968 (still standing); Devils Lake + Stump Lake carry enormous post-1990s-wet-cycle pike biomass but fish under the standard liberal 5-fish-per-day limit with no length restriction (no special Devils Lake exception in current ND G&F regulations).

Do you need a license to fish for northern pike in North Dakota?

Yes. North Dakota requires a valid fishing license to fish for northern pike, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a North Dakota license — compare resident and non-resident North Dakota fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for northern pike in North Dakota?

Yes. In North Dakota, northern pike fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted (large spoon + spinnerbait + jerk-bait + topwater chuggers most-effective open-water tactics); Ice-fishing tip-ups + dead-bait suspension permitted during December – March season (classic ND winter pike tactic); Live shiner + sucker minnow + dead smelt bait permitted; ND Fishing Licence + Combined Fishing Stamp required ages 16+ ($16 res + $1 stamp / $45 NR + $25 stamp annual); Confirm current-year ND G&F Fishing Regulations for quality-management waters list.

Do specific North Dakota waters have different northern pike rules?

Yes. 6 named North Dakota waters carry rules that override the statewide northern pike regulation, including Devils Lake, Stump Lake, Lake Sakakawea, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

North Dakota Northern pike 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

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Last updated June 8, 2026

North Dakota northern pike fishery is one of the densest in the country, and one of the most liberally regulated — the ND G&F statewide rule is just 5 fish per angler per day (10 in possession) with NO minimum length anywhere in the state, so anglers may harvest pike of any size. Devils Lake (200,000+ acres natural prairie lake) and Stump Lake (10,000 acres connected to Devils Lake via the Tolna Coulee) carry enormous post-1990s-wet-cycle pike biomass and fish under the standard 5 / day statewide limit — there is no Devils Lake bag or length exception in the current ND G&F regulations. Lake Sakakawea (368,000 acres on the Missouri River — the country's third-largest reservoir) carries trophy northern pike under the same 5-fish-per-day rule and produces ND state-record northern pike 37 lb 8 oz (1968 — still standing). Lake Audubon (14,500 acres adjacent to Sakakawea), the Souris River + Red River main stem + the Sheyenne River + the James River + dozens of smaller eastern ND prairie-pothole + Missouri River impoundment + USACE reservoir waters carry self-sustaining pike populations. The only statewide exception is on the Red + Bois de Sioux boundary rivers (and their tributaries up to the first vehicular crossing), where pike are limited to 3 / day, 3 possession. Open year-round statewide. The winter ice-fishing season December – March is the densest fishing window — pike concentrate on shallow bays + reed-bed structure during the spring + fall transitions, and ND ice-fishing for pike via tip-ups + dead-bait suspension is a classic Northern Plains winter target; ND also allows darkhouse spearing and (new for 2024-26) the take of pike with bow / archery while in dark houses in winter.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; spring spawning run on Lake Sakakawea + Devils Lake + Red River tributaries March – April + winter ice-fishing through frozen winters December – March (ND classic ice-fishing target).

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day per angler statewide (10 possession); 3 / day, 3 possession on the Red + Bois de Sioux boundary rivers and their tributaries up to the first vehicular crossing
Possession: 10 in possession statewide; 3 in possession on the Red + Bois de Sioux rivers

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum length
Trophy rule: Lake Sakakawea trophy northern pike — ND state-record 37 lb 8 oz Sakakawea 1968 (still standing); Devils Lake + Stump Lake carry enormous post-1990s-wet-cycle pike biomass but fish under the standard liberal 5-fish-per-day limit with no length restriction (no special Devils Lake exception in current ND G&F regulations)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted (large spoon + spinnerbait + jerk-bait + topwater chuggers most-effective open-water tactics)
Ice-fishing tip-ups + dead-bait suspension permitted during December – March season (classic ND winter pike tactic)
Live shiner + sucker minnow + dead smelt bait permitted
ND Fishing Licence + Combined Fishing Stamp required ages 16+ ($16 res + $1 stamp / $45 NR + $25 stamp annual)
Confirm current-year ND G&F Fishing Regulations for quality-management waters list

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific North Dakota waters:

Devils Lake
No minimum length, 5 / day (10 possession) — standard ND statewide limit, no Devils Lake bag or length exception
Stump Lake
No minimum length, 5 / day (10 possession) — standard ND statewide limit
Lake Sakakawea
No minimum length, 5 / day (10 possession); ND state-record northern pike 37 lb 8 oz Sakakawea 1968 (still standing)
Lake Audubon
No minimum length, 5 / day (10 possession); trophy pike alongside Sakakawea
Lake Oahe upper end
No minimum length, 5 / day (10 possession) under joint ND/SD reciprocal compact
Red River of the North
3 / day, 3 possession (Red + Bois de Sioux boundary-water exception to the statewide 5 / day limit); no minimum length

Official source

North Dakota Game & Fish Department (ND G&F) publishes the authoritative 2026 North Dakotafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The northern pike rules on this page are sourced from North Dakota Game & Fish Department (ND G&F)'s official northern pike regulation page.

Visit official North Dakota fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Northern pike closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to North Dakota Game & Fish Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any North Dakota trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is northern pike season in North Dakota?: North Dakota keeps northern pike open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the North Dakota bag limit for northern pike?: The North Dakota daily bag limit for northern pike is 5 / day per angler statewide (10 possession); 3 / day, 3 possession on the Red + Bois de Sioux boundary rivers and their tributaries up to the first vehicular crossing. The possession limit is 10 in possession statewide; 3 in possession on the Red + Bois de Sioux rivers. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size northern pike can you keep in North Dakota?: The North Dakota size rule for northern pike is No statewide minimum length. Trophy rule: Lake Sakakawea trophy northern pike — ND state-record 37 lb 8 oz Sakakawea 1968 (still standing); Devils Lake + Stump Lake carry enormous post-1990s-wet-cycle pike biomass but fish under the standard liberal 5-fish-per-day limit with no length restriction (no special Devils Lake exception in current ND G&F regulations).
Do you need a license to fish for northern pike in North Dakota?: Yes. North Dakota requires a valid fishing license to fish for northern pike, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a North Dakota license — compare resident and non-resident North Dakota fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for northern pike in North Dakota?: Yes. In North Dakota, northern pike fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted (large spoon + spinnerbait + jerk-bait + topwater chuggers most-effective open-water tactics); Ice-fishing tip-ups + dead-bait suspension permitted during December – March season (classic ND winter pike tactic); Live shiner + sucker minnow + dead smelt bait permitted; ND Fishing Licence + Combined Fishing Stamp required ages 16+ ($16 res + $1 stamp / $45 NR + $25 stamp annual); Confirm current-year ND G&F Fishing Regulations for quality-management waters list.
Do specific North Dakota waters have different northern pike rules?: Yes. 6 named North Dakota waters carry rules that override the statewide northern pike regulation, including Devils Lake, Stump Lake, Lake Sakakawea, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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