Smallmouth bass Lakes in North Dakota
Found in 24 North Dakota lakes · 117 in Michigan
Rough fish like Smallmouth bass are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 117 North Dakota lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Smallmouth bass is moderately distributed — 117 lakes in Michigan. Some counties have it, others do not, so checking the per-lake pages matters.
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 Smallmouth bass lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Smallmouth bass documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Smallmouth bass Lakes Map
Every North Dakota lake with documented smallmouth bass, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Smallmouth bass Lakes in North Dakota
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spiritwood Lake | Stutsman | A | 31 ft | 54.7 ft |
| 2 | Lake Ashtabula | Barnes | B | 3.4 ft | 42.8 ft |
| 3 | Lake Ashtabula | Barnes | B | 6.6 ft | 42.8 ft |
| 4 | Lake Darling | Renville | B | 4.9 ft | 28.7 ft |
| 5 | Lake Darling | Renville | B | 9.8 ft | 28.7 ft |
| 6 | Jamestown Reservoir | Stutsman | B | 7.2 ft | 36.2 ft |
| 7 | Blacktail Dam Lake | Williams | B | 7.2 ft | 36.3 ft |
| 8 | Lake Williams | Kidder | B | 4.7 ft | 30.5 ft |
| 9 | Lake Audubon | McLean | B | 4.7 ft | 59.4 ft |
| 10 | Mooreton Pond | Richland | C | 3 ft | 19.5 ft |
| 11 | Moon Lake | Barnes | C | 4.4 ft | 54.3 ft |
| 12 | Lake Tschida | Grant | C | 5.1 ft | 57 ft |
| 13 | Lake Tschida | Grant | C | 5.2 ft | 57 ft |
| 14 | Hiddenwood Lake | Ward | C | 3.1 ft | 17.9 ft |
| 15 | Lake Tschida | Grant | C | 2.4 ft | 57 ft |
| 16 | Lake Tschida | Grant | C | 3.6 ft | 57 ft |
| 17 | Lake Darling | Renville | C | 5.4 ft | 28.7 ft |
| 18 | Indian Creek Dam Lake | Hettinger | C | 3.1 ft | 30 ft |
| 19 | Bowman-Haley Dam Lake | Bowman | C | 3.9 ft | 27.8 ft |
| 20 | Mcleod Reservoir | Williams | C | 5.4 ft | 34.6 ft |
| 21 | Lake Darling | Ward | D | 5.8 ft | 28.7 ft |
| 22 | Jamestown Reservoir | Stutsman | D | 6 ft | 36.2 ft |
| 23 | Sheep Creek Dam Lake | Grant | D | 2.7 ft | 33 ft |
| 24 | Tolna Dam Lake | Nelson | D | 4.9 ft | 22.7 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many North Dakota lakes have smallmouth bass?
Smallmouth bass are found in 24 lakes in North Dakota. The average water quality grade of these lakes is C (Fair).
What are the best smallmouth bass lakes in North Dakota?
The best smallmouth bass lakes in North Dakota by water quality are Spiritwood Lake, Lake Ashtabula, Lake Ashtabula, Lake Darling, Lake Darling.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.