What special fishing regulations apply at Red River of the North?

Red River of the North carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override North Dakota's statewide 2026 rules, covering Northern pike and Channel catfish. One of them reads: "Only US river that flows north; ND/MN reciprocal compact (anglers fishing main stem may hold a valid ND or MN Fishing Licence — see lib/data/reciprocity.ts); channel catfish 5 / day regardless of the number of state/provincial licenses held, only 1 over 24 in (Red + Bois de Sioux boundary-water rule, all waters east of ND Hwy 1); one of North America's premier trophy channel catfish fisheries (channel cats routinely 15-25 lb, 30+ lb annually); ND state-record channel catfish 42 lb 1 oz Moon Lake (Barnes County) 2009; walleye + sauger + saugeye combined 3 / day, 3 possession (Red + Bois de Sioux boundary-water exception to the statewide 5 / day limit), NO length limit; northern pike 3 / day, 3 possession (boundary-water exception); largemouth + smallmouth bass 5 / day combined, NO length limit; zebra-mussel water — drain all bait containers on leaving." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Red River of the North?

Yes. Red River of the North 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 Red River of the North; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide North Dakota rules.

Do Red River of the North's special rules replace North Dakota's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. North Dakota's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Red River of the North by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules 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.

Which species have special rules on Red River of the North?

Northern pike and Channel catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Red River of the North, each linking to its full North Dakota regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide North Dakota limits.

2026 regulation year

Red River of the North 2026 — North Dakota Fishing Regulations

North Dakota statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 8, 2026

Red River of the North carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of North Dakota's 2026 fishing rules — covering Northern pike, Channel catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Only US river that flows north; ND/MN reciprocal compact (anglers fishing main stem may hold a valid ND or MN Fishing Licence — see lib/data/reciprocity.ts); channel catfish 5 / day regardless of the number of state/provincial licenses held, only 1 over 24 in (Red + Bois de Sioux boundary-water rule, all waters east of ND Hwy 1); one of North America's premier trophy channel catfish fisheries (channel cats routinely 15-25 lb, 30+ lb annually); ND state-record channel catfish 42 lb 1 oz Moon Lake (Barnes County) 2009; walleye + sauger + saugeye combined 3 / day, 3 possession (Red + Bois de Sioux boundary-water exception to the statewide 5 / day limit), NO length limit; northern pike 3 / day, 3 possession (boundary-water exception); largemouth + smallmouth bass 5 / day combined, NO length limit; zebra-mussel water — drain all bait containers on leaving
Source: North Dakota special-water list

Per-species rules on Red River of the North

Northern pike regulations →
3 / day, 3 possession (Red + Bois de Sioux boundary-water exception to the statewide 5 / day limit); no minimum length
Channel catfish regulations →
5 / day regardless of the number of state/provincial licenses held, only 1 over 24 in (ND/MN/Manitoba boundary-water rule, all waters east of ND Hwy 1); premier trophy channel catfish fishery — routinely 15-25 lb, 30+ lb annually

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

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Red River of the North?: Red River of the North carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override North Dakota's statewide 2026 rules, covering Northern pike and Channel catfish. One of them reads: "Only US river that flows north; ND/MN reciprocal compact (anglers fishing main stem may hold a valid ND or MN Fishing Licence — see lib/data/reciprocity.ts); channel catfish 5 / day regardless of the number of state/provincial licenses held, only 1 over 24 in (Red + Bois de Sioux boundary-water rule, all waters east of ND Hwy 1); one of North America's premier trophy channel catfish fisheries (channel cats routinely 15-25 lb, 30+ lb annually); ND state-record channel catfish 42 lb 1 oz Moon Lake (Barnes County) 2009; walleye + sauger + saugeye combined 3 / day, 3 possession (Red + Bois de Sioux boundary-water exception to the statewide 5 / day limit), NO length limit; northern pike 3 / day, 3 possession (boundary-water exception); largemouth + smallmouth bass 5 / day combined, NO length limit; zebra-mussel water — drain all bait containers on leaving." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Red River of the North?: Yes. Red River of the North 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 Red River of the North; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide North Dakota rules.
Do Red River of the North's special rules replace North Dakota's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. North Dakota's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Red River of the North by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules 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.
Which species have special rules on Red River of the North?: Northern pike and Channel catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Red River of the North, each linking to its full North Dakota regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide North Dakota limits.

← Back to North Dakota regulations overview