2026 regulation year
McDowell Dam 2026 — North Dakota Fishing Regulations
North Dakota statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
McDowell Dam carries a special-regulation overlay on top of North Dakota's 2026 fishing rules. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
ALL SPECIES catch-and-release only while ice fishing (open-water harvest follows statewide limits); Bismarck-area recreation reservoir on Burnt Creek
Source: North Dakota special-water list
Official source
North Dakota Game & Fish Department (ND G&F) publishes the authoritative 2026 North Dakota fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official North Dakota fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven 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.
Other special-regulation waters in North Dakota
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at McDowell Dam?
- McDowell Dam carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides North Dakota's statewide 2026 rules. It reads: "ALL SPECIES catch-and-release only while ice fishing (open-water harvest follows statewide limits); Bismarck-area recreation reservoir on Burnt Creek." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish McDowell Dam?
- Yes. McDowell Dam is in North Dakota, so a valid North Dakota fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by North Dakota Game & Fish Department (ND G&F). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for McDowell Dam; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide North Dakota rules.
- Do McDowell Dam's special rules replace North Dakota's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. North Dakota's statewide 2026 regulations apply on McDowell Dam by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rule for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.