North Dakota Game and Fish Releases 2026 District Fishing Preview Videos, Part 2

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department wrapped up its two-week district fishing preview series for 2026 with videos covering four districts that matter most to anglers planning their spring season: Devils Lake Complex/Red River, Northeast, South Central and Lake Oahe, and Southwest, with NDGF fisheries supervisors and biologists walking through what to expect on the water.

This is the second of two weeks of North Dakota Game and Fish Department district fishing previews for 2026. The first week covered the North Central District, Southeast and Northwest districts, and Lake Sakakawea. Together, the two-part series gives anglers a department-level look at conditions across the entire state before open water arrives.

For Jamestown-area anglers, the South Central district preview is the most directly relevant. Jamestown Reservoir and Pipestem Reservoir, upstream to and including the first bridge or crossing on both, carry a 14-inch minimum size limit on walleye and sauger in Stutsman County under the new 2026-28 regulations. Created by the Jamestown Dam, Jamestown Reservoir boasts seven boat launches and is known for pike, crappie, and walleye fishing.

Stutsman County also holds one of North America's most unusual fisheries: Spiritwood Lake near Jamestown and nearby Alkali Lake have the only verified zander populations in North America. Zander are included as part of the walleye, sauger, saugeye combination limit in Spiritwood and Alkali lakes in Stutsman County.

The 2026-28 regulation cycle brought several changes worth knowing before heading out. NDGF Fisheries Division Chief Greg Power said one of the biggest updates is the allowance again to use white sucker as legal live bait, but only in big waters including Sakakawea, Oahe, Missouri River, Audubon, Stump Lake, and Devils Lake. The white bass daily limit also increases, moving from 20 fish per day and 40 in possession to 30 per day and 60 in possession starting April 1.

Anglers will need a new fishing license starting April 1. The 2026-28 Fishing Guide is available online at the Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov, or in hard copy at Game and Fish Department offices and license vendors throughout the state.

The North Dakota Game and Fish says fisheries across North Dakota are in good shape, especially walleye populations. The NDGF's NDO Webcast for part 2 includes a look at how the 2026 open water fishing season is shaping up for the Devils Lake complex and the Red River. The full district preview videos are available through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at gf.nd.gov.