Best Lakes for Fishing Near Bismarck
North Dakota
8 fishing lakes within driving distance of Bismarck, North Dakota, ranked by water quality and fishing-specific filters. Filtered for documented fish species (3+) and public access. Ranked by water quality and species diversity.
A moderate cluster of 8 graded lakes lies within reach of Bismarck, averaging a grade of D. Arroda Lake (B) is the cleanest of the set.
The fishing-specific ranking layered on top of the LakeGrade rubric is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the fishing use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arroda Lake | Oliver | B | 36 mi | 6.7 ft | 36.7 ft |
| 2 | East Arroda Lake | Oliver | C | 36 mi | 5.6 ft | 33.6 ft |
| 3 | Mcdowell Dam Lake | Burleigh | D | 7.2 mi | 1.6 ft | 39.6 ft |
| 4 | Nelson Lake | Oliver | D | 26.8 mi | 1.3 ft | 33.4 ft |
| 5 | Froelich Dam Lake | Sioux | D | 45.8 mi | 3.9 ft | 34.2 ft |
| 6 | Harmon Lake | Morton | F | 12.3 mi | - | 46.8 ft |
| 7 | Sweet Briar Dam-Mid Reservoir | Morton | F | 23.5 mi | 3 ft | 29.9 ft |
| 8 | Sweetbriar Dam Lake | Morton | F | 23.6 mi | 3 ft | 29.9 ft |
Other activities near Bismarck
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.