Common carp Lakes in North Dakota
Found in 22 North Dakota lakes · 6 in Michigan
Common carp is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 6 lakes carry documentation. Common carp is narrowly distributed — only 6 lakes in Michigan have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.
Rough-fish-dominant lakes are worth checking the grade on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Common carp lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Common carp documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Common carp Lakes Map
Every North Dakota lake with documented common carp, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Common carp Lakes in North Dakota
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patterson Lake | Stark | B | - | 24.8 ft |
| 2 | Jamestown Reservoir | Stutsman | B | 7.2 ft | 36.2 ft |
| 3 | Lake Audubon | McLean | B | 4.7 ft | 59.4 ft |
| 4 | Mooreton Pond | Richland | C | 3 ft | 19.5 ft |
| 5 | Hurdsfield-Tuffy Lake | Wells | C | 9.5 ft | 27.1 ft |
| 6 | Lake Tschida | Grant | C | 5.1 ft | 57 ft |
| 7 | Lake Lamoure | LaMoure | C | 8 ft | 31.4 ft |
| 8 | Lake Tschida | Grant | C | 5.2 ft | 57 ft |
| 9 | Beaver Lake | Logan | C | 1.4 ft | 7.9 ft |
| 10 | Trenton Lake | Williams | C | 1.5 ft | 8.1 ft |
| 11 | Alkali Lake | Sargent | C | 4.6 ft | 21.9 ft |
| 12 | Lake Tschida | Grant | C | 2.4 ft | 57 ft |
| 13 | Lake Tschida | Grant | C | 3.6 ft | 57 ft |
| 14 | Bowman-Haley Dam Lake | Bowman | C | 3.9 ft | 27.8 ft |
| 15 | Jamestown Reservoir | Stutsman | D | 6 ft | 36.2 ft |
| 16 | Larimore Dam Lake | Grand Forks | D | 3 ft | 28.2 ft |
| 17 | Nelson Lake | Oliver | D | 1.3 ft | 33.4 ft |
| 18 | Buffalo Lake | Pierce | F | 0.3 ft | 15.9 ft |
| 19 | Juanita Lake | Foster | F | 1 ft | 9.9 ft |
| 20 | Sweetbriar Dam Lake | Morton | F | 3 ft | 29.9 ft |
| 21 | Sweet Briar Dam-Mid Reservoir | Morton | F | 3 ft | 29.9 ft |
| 22 | Cedar Lake | Slope | F | 1.3 ft | 14.2 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many North Dakota lakes have common carp?
Common carp are found in 22 lakes in North Dakota. The average water quality grade of these lakes is D (Poor).
What are the best common carp lakes in North Dakota?
The best common carp lakes in North Dakota by water quality are Patterson Lake, Jamestown Reservoir, Lake Audubon, Mooreton Pond, Hurdsfield-Tuffy Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.