When is smallmouth bass season in North Dakota?

North Dakota keeps smallmouth bass 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 smallmouth bass?

The North Dakota daily bag limit for smallmouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth). The possession limit is 10 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size smallmouth bass can you keep in North Dakota?

The North Dakota size rule for smallmouth bass is No statewide length limit anywhere in North Dakota. Trophy rule: Lake Sakakawea + Lake Oahe + Missouri River main stem trophy smallmouth corridor; ND state-record smallmouth 6 lb 0 oz Lake Sakakawea 1981; free-flowing Missouri River reach between Garrison Dam tailwater + head of Lake Oahe at Bismarck one of most underrated smallmouth river fisheries in country.

Do you need a license to fish for smallmouth bass in North Dakota?

Yes. North Dakota requires a valid fishing license to fish for smallmouth bass, 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 smallmouth bass in North Dakota?

Yes. In North Dakota, smallmouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Snagging prohibited for black bass; 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 trophy waters list.

Do specific North Dakota waters have different smallmouth bass rules?

Yes. 4 named North Dakota waters carry rules that override the statewide smallmouth bass regulation, including Lake Sakakawea, Lake Oahe upper end, Missouri River main stem, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

North Dakota Smallmouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

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Last updated June 8, 2026

North Dakota smallmouth bass fishery centers on Lake Sakakawea + Lake Oahe upper end + the free-flowing Missouri River reach between Garrison Dam tailwater + the head of Lake Oahe at Bismarck — the rocky shoreline + clear-water + cool-temperature conditions of the Missouri River corridor support naturally-reproducing smallmouth populations on the Northern Plains reservoir tier. Lake Sakakawea (368,000 acres, country's third-largest reservoir) is the state's premier smallmouth water — Sakakawea's Van Hook Arm + main-stem rocky shoreline + Knife River arm + Little Missouri arm support naturally-reproducing smallmouth + the quality-management 14-inch minimum reach. Lake Oahe upper end (25,000 acres ND-portion) operates under joint ND/SD reciprocal compact rules. The free-flowing Missouri River reach between Garrison Dam tailwater + head of Lake Oahe at Bismarck (one of the longest remaining free-flowing reaches of the Missouri River outside Montana) is one of the most underrated smallmouth river fisheries in the country — wading + boating access from Mandan + Bismarck + Washburn produces consistent 3-5 lb fish on rocky shoreline + island structure. Lake Audubon + Lake Tschida + Lake Darling + Jamestown Reservoir + Lake Ashtabula carry secondary smallmouth populations on listed rocky-shoreline + offshore-structure reaches. The statewide standard rule is a 5-fish combined daily aggregate across largemouth + smallmouth bass (10 in possession) with NO statewide length limit — North Dakota places no minimum length on either black bass species anywhere in the state, including the Sakakawea / Oahe / Missouri-River trophy corridor, so the 5-fish daily bag is the only harvest constraint. Open year-round statewide. ND state-record smallmouth bass 6 lb 0 oz (Lake Sakakawea, 1981).

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; March – May pre-spawn + spawn densest fishing window; no spring spawning closure.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth)
Possession: 10 in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide length limit anywhere in North Dakota
Trophy rule: Lake Sakakawea + Lake Oahe + Missouri River main stem trophy smallmouth corridor; ND state-record smallmouth 6 lb 0 oz Lake Sakakawea 1981; free-flowing Missouri River reach between Garrison Dam tailwater + head of Lake Oahe at Bismarck one of most underrated smallmouth river fisheries in country

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted
Snagging prohibited for black bass
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 trophy waters list

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific North Dakota waters:

Lake Sakakawea
NO length limit, 5 / day combined largemouth + smallmouth; ND state-record smallmouth 6 lb 0 oz Sakakawea 1981
Lake Oahe upper end
NO length limit, 5 / day combined largemouth + smallmouth; joint ND/SD reciprocal compact on main stem boundary
Missouri River main stem
NO length limit, 5 / day combined largemouth + smallmouth; the free-flowing reach between Garrison Dam tailwater + the head of Lake Oahe at Bismarck is one of the most underrated smallmouth river fisheries in the country
Lake Audubon
NO length limit, 5 / day combined largemouth + smallmouth

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.

Visit official North Dakota fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Smallmouth bass 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 smallmouth bass season in North Dakota?: North Dakota keeps smallmouth bass 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 smallmouth bass?: The North Dakota daily bag limit for smallmouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth). The possession limit is 10 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size smallmouth bass can you keep in North Dakota?: The North Dakota size rule for smallmouth bass is No statewide length limit anywhere in North Dakota. Trophy rule: Lake Sakakawea + Lake Oahe + Missouri River main stem trophy smallmouth corridor; ND state-record smallmouth 6 lb 0 oz Lake Sakakawea 1981; free-flowing Missouri River reach between Garrison Dam tailwater + head of Lake Oahe at Bismarck one of most underrated smallmouth river fisheries in country.
Do you need a license to fish for smallmouth bass in North Dakota?: Yes. North Dakota requires a valid fishing license to fish for smallmouth bass, 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 smallmouth bass in North Dakota?: Yes. In North Dakota, smallmouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Snagging prohibited for black bass; 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 trophy waters list.
Do specific North Dakota waters have different smallmouth bass rules?: Yes. 4 named North Dakota waters carry rules that override the statewide smallmouth bass regulation, including Lake Sakakawea, Lake Oahe upper end, Missouri River main stem, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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