It’s a fishing day

Lake Audubon fishing conditions · North Dakota

Tomorrow 9 am to Monday 2 amYellow perch

The bite peaks at 68. Wind builds to 21 mph out of the west by today at 2:00 pm.

Log a trip here
Right now: 45 for yellow perch, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Yellow perch, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 452 pm
  2. 45
  3. 45
  4. 605 pm
  5. 60
  6. 68
  7. 688 pm
  8. 68
  9. 68
  10. 6811 pm
  11. 68Sun
  12. 68
  13. 682 am
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 605 am
  17. 58
  18. 58
  19. 608 am
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 6811 am
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 682 pm
  26. 68
  27. 68
  28. 685 pm
  29. 68
  30. 68
  31. 688 pm
  32. 68
  33. 68
  34. 6811 pm
  35. 68Mon
  36. 68
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Yellow perch range 45–70°

Wind
21 mph

From the west · rough for small boats

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:19 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
61°F

NWS hourly forecast

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are North Dakota non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalTomorrow 9 am to Monday 2 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

20 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. North Dakota (2026–28 proclamation): 20 yellow perch a day, 40 in possession.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · North Dakota non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Northern Pike

Northern pike

Esox lucius

68MarginalTomorrow 9 am to Monday 2 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Northern pike bite in 50–70° water, best near 63°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 4–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. North Dakota (2026–28 proclamation): 5 northern pike a day, 10 in possession.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · North Dakota non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round. More on northern pike

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

45Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Walleye is here Apr–Jun, Oct. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. North Dakota (2026–28 proclamation): 5 walleye, sauger and saugeye a day combined (10 in possession), no minimum except at Buffalo Lake, Jamestown and Pipestem reservoirs and Lake Elsie (14").

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · North Dakota non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Jun, Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Smallmouth bass is here May–Oct. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. North Dakota (2026–28 proclamation): 5 largemouth and smallmouth bass a day combined (10 in possession), no size limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · North Dakota non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Oct. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. North Dakota: nongame fish, carp included, have no daily or possession limit. Live nongame fish other than legal baitfish may not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · North Dakota non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.87 inHg

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:19 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:39 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 2:50 pm–3:50 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:40 pm–11:40 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. North Dakota Game & Fish has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: North Dakota Game & Fish · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A 16,000-acre Missouri-system reservoir alongside Lake Sakakawea in central North Dakota, separated by Highway 83 and fed by Snake Creek. A consistent walleye and yellow-perch fishery with northern pike in the bays and smallmouth bass on the rock — a quieter alternative to its giant neighbor.

North Dakota: 5 walleye, sauger and saugeye a day with no minimum; 20 yellow perch and 5 northern pike a day.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Sakakawea (Fort Stevenson State Park)8 mi · North DakotaBest tomorrow 8 am to Monday 2 am
68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Audubon?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake Audubon you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Audubon?

Lake Audubon is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Lake Audubon?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake Audubon against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Lake Audubon have?

Lake Audubon has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. North Dakota: 5 walleye, sauger and saugeye a day with no minimum; 20 yellow perch and 5 northern pike a day.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Audubon?

state agency regulations apply at Lake Audubon. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Lake Audubon tidal water?

No. Lake Audubon is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.