Missouri River · Bismarck south to Pierre, SD
Lake Oahe
Lake Oahe runs from just south of Bismarck all the way to Oahe Dam at Pierre, South Dakota — roughly 231 miles of reservoir with some 2,250 miles of shoreline, one of the largest in the country. The North Dakota end is Bismarck’s back yard: our customers launch south of town and have world-class water in minutes.
Oahe is deep, cool, and huge. It fishes like big water, it recreates like big water, and on the calm stretches near town it gives Bismarck something no other lake on this list does: legitimate cruising and watersports water at commuting distance.
The Fishing
Walleye is king on Oahe, with abundant fish along the river channel, points, and bays of the upper lake. Smallmouth bass are excellent, northern pike and white bass fill out the summer, and channel catfish work the river-influenced reaches. Water levels move with Corps operations, so ramp conditions and fish location shift year to year — local knowledge pays here.
The Right Boat for Lake Oahe
- Big Lund deep-V — for the main lake. Shop Lund boats →
- Sea Ray & MasterCraft — the Bismarck recreation play. Shop all boats →
- Yamaha WaveRunner — after-work water. Shop WaveRunners →
Boat shopping for Lake Oahe? Visit Vallely Sport & Marine — Bismarck or call (701) 299-0172. We handle delivery, service, winterization, and storage across the region.
