Update on North Dakota boat ramps

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Anglers are eager to get their boats in the water to wet a line this spring. Mike Anderson gives us an update on boat ramps on our state’s waters.

The forecast for mountain snowpack in Montana, which feeds the Missouri River System, is better than expected this spring.

“They’ve had some really nice March snowstorms over there,” said Bob Frohlich, North Dakota Game and Fish fisheries development supervisor. “And most of the drainages that feed the system are in that 90 to 100%.”

Lake Sakakawea water levels and boat ramps should be in good shape this year.

“They’re down four to five feet lower than what they were last year, but overall, they’re at a pretty good level right now. It’s going to come up about 6.5 feet with the snowpack runoff that comes in in June and July,” said Frohlich. “And we’ll have good access at all 34 recreation sites on the lake.”

Lake Oahe water levels and boating access is going to be a lot more challenging in 2025.

“The lake is currently at 1,599 feet, and that’s the high for the year. It’s expected to just slowly decline from here until fall, go down about another four or five feet,” said Frohlich. “Because of that, we’re going to just slowly lose access at those ten ramps that are down there, we might be down to three or four ramps come fall.”

Devils Lake water levels and access will be similar to last year.

“They’re going to come up about a foot, but even at these water levels, they’re in pretty good shape. We’ve got ten ramps up there,” said Frohlich. “One of them is kind of in jeopardy right now, the Round Lake one south of Minnewaukan. And despite that, I mean, we’re going to still have decent access at the other nine sites.”

Plains runoff, which most of our district lakes rely on, was minimal this year.

“The western part of the state is really dry. And we’ve got lakes that are down one to five feet over there. The eastern part, two-thirds is a little better. The northeast is really good,” said Frohlich. “We’ve got lakes that are full up there. They had a wet fall, so they’re in a lot better shape than the rest of the state.”

Overall, anglers should have decent boating access when heading to their favorite fishing spots in 2025.

The Game and Fish Department fisheries development crew is planning to construct around 10 new boat ramps this year.

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