Lake Sakakawea is a man-made lake created by the Army Corp of Engineers in 1940. It houses the fifth largest dam in the world, which is situated near Garrison, North Dakota. The lake itself was created as a solution to flooding occurring in the Missouri River. Lake Sakakawea is 178 miles long with 1,340 miles of shoreline, boasting more shoreline than the entire state of California.
Lake Sakakawea is known as a stellar fishing location because fish are plentiful here. With a width of 2 – 3 miles and the deepest point at 180 ft, this lake is a suitable home for many fish species. The marina in Lake Sakakawea State Park is well-equipped for the many fishermen that frequent the lake; it houses boat ramps, a general store, gas docks, and boat slips. Due to the high fishing demand, biologists have done surveys dating back to 1956, and 58 fish species had been identified as of 2011.
Lake Sakakawea Fish Species
1) Walleye (Sander vitreus)
The walleye is one of the most popular and abundant game fish in North Dakota. They thrive in large reservoir environments like Lake Sakakawea. Biologists focused on the ecology of the lake are very involved with the walleye population. They initiate artificial spawning of walleye in order to keep population numbers up. They also survey the health of the population, and of the eggs in particular.
The Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery located on Lake Sakakawea serves an important role in the ecological health of the surrounding area as well. Here, walleye eggs are raised for distribution to different locations around North Dakota.
The walleye’s primary food source is smelt, and they will likely move to different sides of Lake Sakakawea to follow them as the water temperature changes seasonally. They are usually found in large schools in the lake. The average size of walleye caught by fishermen was 18 inches long in 2019.
2) White bass (Morone chrysops)
White bass are not native to Lake Sakakawea and likely arrived there from other waterways that let out on the lake. These fish have silver scales with rounded and slender bodies. Two separate dorsal fins separate the white bass from many other species in the lake. The front dorsal fin is spiny, while the other is more rounded with rays. The snout comes to a point, and the white bass has a stripe running horizontally along the body. The stripe is darker than the rest of the coloration.
While adult white bass prefer a diet of smaller fish, juveniles will feed on zooplankton. They prefer warmer waters, and can even survive in saline water. White bass are not very large, and the record fish caught was around 2 kg (4.4 lbs), with the average length being 10-18 inches. Their life span varies by region in the United States, but the average is 6 – 9 years.
3) Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax)
The rainbow smelt is a slender, long fish that prefers cold water habitats. It is commonly found in northern ocean environments, such as the northern Atlantic and northern Pacific. A rainbow smelt can be identified by a few different features. They are silver, and sometimes have a horizontally running stripe down the body. The rainbow in their name comes from the appearance of silver to reflect rainbow colors in the sunlight. Their lower jaw protrudes past the upper jaw, and the upper jaw houses large teeth.
The rainbow smelt is not native to Lake Sakakawea, but it has been introduced and plays a large role in the ecological balance today as a prey animal to larger species. Northern pike and the aforementioned walleye are examples of fish that feed on rainbow smelt. The rainbow smelt themselves prefer to eat crustaceans, insects, and sometimes smaller fish.
4) Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Rainbow trout are known as a popular game fish because of their beautiful coloration. Colorful scales are displayed on the body, with brown spots speckled around as well. Rainbow trout often have a stripe that runs horizontally down the body and is light red or pink in color.
Due to their popularity and short spawning season, Lake Sakakawea biologists must artificially stock these fish in order to maintain the health and size of the population. This is not an uncommon practice in surrounding areas of North Dakota as well.
Rainbow trout are a sensitive species in terms of water quality. Having a large population in a lake or river indicates a lack of significant pollution and good water health. Despite this sensitivity, the species is surprisingly flexible, being able to live in fast-moving shallow water or deep cold water. Rainbow trout are native to North America, as far south as Mexico, and as far north as Alaska.
5) Sauger (Sander canadensis)
Yet another common fish to find in Lake Sakakawea is the sauger, also known as a sand pike or a spotfin pike. To a novice observer, the sauger will closely resemble the walleye upon first glance. In fact, saugers and walleye are so closely related that they are able to mate and produce offspring. This hybrid species is known as the “saugeye.”
The sauger possesses a split, or forked, tail fin and two dorsal fins. The body is slender and dark in color. Contrary to many species, they prefer areas of high water flow and turbidity, along with areas that have a lower light level. Their eyes are specifically designed to be able to see in this kind of water. Saugers will stay near the bottom of waterways and hide in vegetation. These fish spawn in the springtime and will live about 7 – 10 years. As for size, the average sauger is 12 inches long and weighs one pound.
Lake Sakakawea is a famous spot for fishing saugers despite its large habitat area throughout the United States; they are most often fished in their spawning months.
6) Northern pike (Esox lucius)
The northern pike is North Dakota’s state fish. It has a long body with an elongated snout. The dorsal fin on this fish is situated farther back on the body, closer to the tail fin, than is observed in similar species. They have a dark background of scales spotted with lighter coloration. However, the fins reverse that pattern and have spots that are darker in color than the background of scales.
The northern pike is native to many places in the Northern Hemisphere, so it is unsurprising that its population is thriving in Lake Sakakawea. This fish can grow to be large, with the record northern pike caught in the lake weighing in at 37.5 pounds and 48 inches long. This fish is known to be aggressive. It will eat other fish such as perch, and has even been known to have cannibalistic tendencies.
7) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Chinook salmon are also known and marketed as king salmon. This name stems from the fact that they are the largest of all the Pacific salmon species. They, like their fellow trout relatives, must be artificially introduced and stocked into Lake Sakakawea. The conditions of the lake do not support their spawning needs and habits. These spawning behaviors include laying eggs in freshwater and migrating back to their primary habitat, the ocean.
Chinook salmon can change in appearance when the time comes for spawning. In the ocean, they are blue, green, and silver with spots. However, in Lake Sakakawea, they are likely to be brown and spotted, which is common in juveniles when they hatch in freshwater.
Despite their low chance of success, Chinook salmon do still try to spawn when they mature and when the season is right. After spawning, the adult salmon will always die. Though it sounds macabre, the decaying body provides vital nutrients to other species in the lake ecosystem.
8) American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)
American paddlefish are certainly the most unique in morphology on this species list. They are often described as resembling sharks, with smooth skin and limited scales. Also like sharks, their skeletons are cartilaginous. Their snout is very long, and it is shaped like a paddle. The paddlefish has also been referred to as “spoonbill.” It is an old species, with the fossil record containing evidence of their existence up to 2 million years ago during the Jurassic Period.
American paddlefish feed on plankton by swimming with an open mouth and allowing their gill rakers to separate the plankton from the water. The average paddlefish in North America will be about 40 pounds, but individuals have grown up to 200 lbs.
American paddlefish inhabit Lake Sakakawea as part of their spawning behavior. They swim from the lake upstream to rivers such as the Yellowstone River. Due to Lake Sakakawea’s importance to the population success of the paddlefish, it is closely monitored by biologists to ensure population health.
9) Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
Smallmouth bass inhabit waterways all across the United States. Other names include “bronzeback” and “green bass.” This fish is dark in color, ranging from dark green to nearly black. It also has vertical, dark stripes that are the most evident in adolescence and fade as the fish ages. Smallmouth bass have two dorsal fins situated close to one another. The front fin is spiny, while the back has rays. Their snout comes to a point, and their eyes are commonly red.
Smallmouth bass are carnivorous ambush hunters, feeding on insects and smaller fish as available. Females will most likely be larger than males, and the males are the ones who build the nest when it comes time to spawn.
10) Yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
The yellow perch, also known as the American perch, is found all throughout rivers and lakes in the Northeast United States. Its habitat also extends up to Canada The fish has an oval-shaped body and is a yellow-green color. It is identifiable by its unique dorsal fin, which differs from some of its relatives, like walleye. The back-most dorsal fin has 6 – 8 spines, while other species have many more. The yellow perch sports overlapping scales that make it rough to the touch, as well as having sharp teeth. Despite this, the fish is known as an easy catch for fishermen.
The yellow-green color of this perch can vary in intensity. It will change with the clarity and quality of the water the fish lives in. Age also plays a role. Young yellow perches, as well as those that live in very clear water, will tend to have less intense yellow-green coloration.
The yellow perch plays an important role in the ecology of the lakes and rivers it inhabits. It is a vital prey animal for birds of prey such as cormorants and gulls.
11) White crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
The white crappie, as well as its close relative the black crappie, falls into the larger classification of the “sunfish family.” Their habitat is mostly found in rivers in the eastern United States, but they are also present on the west coast of California. The white crappie prefers shallow waters, and will often find shelter in vegetation or rocks. Another source of protection is the crappie’s tendency to travel in large schools.
The white crappie is most active in darker hours like dawn and dusk, and they prefer warm, turbid waters. They are carnivorous fish, with a diet ranging from zooplankton all the way to other insects depending on the age of the crappie and the availability of food in the habitat. However, the fish themselves only reach about 7 – 12 inches, so the food they eat is relatively small.
Their spawning behaviors are not unlike many other fish mentioned in this list. The white crappie spawns in the spring when water temperatures are warm. The male will build the nest for the female to lay her eggs in. The male will also guard the nest during the development and hatching period of about 2 – 5 days.
12) Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)
Though not the most abundant fish in Lake Sakakawea, the freshwater drum is an interesting and unique species that lives in the lake. It goes by many names, including “croaker” and “sheephead.” Freshwater drums average about 10 – 14 inches long and 1 – 8 pounds. Their scales are silvery but can appear bluish or gray in a different light.
This fish has had tremendous success throughout North America because of its spawning style. Eggs are laid in rapidly moving water, allowing them to be swept away for many miles before they hatch. The diet of the freshwater drum is also quite unique. It has molar teeth that can crush the shells of its prey, including aquatic snails.
During mating season, male freshwater drums can be heard making what has been described as grunting noises. This is also where the name “croaker” comes from. Freshwater drums are also known for their “lucky stones,” which are actually abnormally large ear bones that help with balance.
