North Dakota Lake Named One Of The Best Ice Fishing Spots In USA

Ice fishing. Is it for people with really bad marriages?

As an avid outdoorsman, I have really tried over the years to like ice fishing. I've gone several times and even had a few successful outings. When that bobber slides down that hole, I admit, that is an adrenalin rush, much like when it happens on open water.

The running joke with my friends who don't like fishing in general, especially ice fishing, is that it's for people with bad marriages. Anything to get away from your spouse.

My biggest beef with ice fishing over the years has been how cold you get. Even with my 1600-gram insulated boots, my toes seem to go numb quickly. Not to mention, boredom can set in quickly when the fish aren't biting.

Unlike fishing open water in a boat. You always have scenery to pass the time if the fish aren't biting. I absolutely love open-water fishing. Even the cold doesn't bother me nearly as much when I'm in a boat. We fish from March to the end of October from a boat typically.

The fact that my son was a hockey player also prevented me from doing much ice fishing over the last 20 years as I have been following him around the rinks on weekends from youth hockey, to high school, junior hockey, and college.

I know with today's technology and the latest gear to keep you warm, I would probably learn to love ice fishing much like so many North Dakotans, if I just gave it a chance.

In the meantime, I ran across an article from Fisher Booker on the Top 10 Ice Fishing Destinations for 2025.

North Dakota has a lake that made the Top 10 Ice Fishing Destination in America.

That lake is none other than Lake Oahe at #10. This man-made reservoir begins just south of Bismarck and goes way into central South Dakota. According to Wikipedia, the lake spans 370,000 acres in size and has a shoreline of 2,250 miles. By volume, it's the fourth-largest reservoir in the United States.

With our latest arctic blast that has brought so many 30 below zero temps to the region, we are making plenty of ice across the state. Now, might be a great time to get your auger, ice house, and little poles out and chase some walleyes on Lake Oahe.

Here are the Top 10 Ice Fishing Destinations in America for 2025.

#1 Bemidji, Minnesota

#2 Moosehead Lake, Maine

#3 Eleven Mile Reservoir, Colorado

#4 Saginaw Bay, Michigan

#5 Rhinelander, Wisconsin

#6 Presque Isle Bay, Pennsylvania

#7 Fort Peck Lake, Montana

#8 Lake Cascade, Idaho

#9 Caples Lake, California

#10 Lake Oahe, North Dakota/South Dakota