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Sheyenne River Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

North Dakota’s longest river: the Sheyenne winds 590 miles of walleye, pike and catfish across the prairie.

4/5
Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.
Flow
196 cfs
Air / High
86 / 87 F
Wind
E 4 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 05059000, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

4/5Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Sheyenne River sits in the sweet spot of the season: active fish and workable weather. The river is running 196 cfs, on the rise. Today brings clear skies, wind E around 4 mph, falling pressure near 1011 hPa and a high of 87. Water sits around 66 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

WalleyeExcellent

Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

Northern pikeExcellent

Weedline spinnerbaits, spoons and jerkbaits; bays with fresh green weed hold the active fish.

White bassGood

The spring river run: small crankbaits and roadrunners up the tributaries.

CrappieFair

Spawning shallow around cover in spring; jigs under a float near buck brush and laydowns.

Tomorrow: Similar at 87 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from Sheyenne River near Kindred.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 05059000.

188231273196 cfs08/0508/1508/2509/04

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp86 F
High / Low87 / 58 F
WindE 4-6 mph
Pressure1010.6 hPa, falling
Sky / Rain10% cloud, 3%
Sunrise / Sunset06:52 / 20:01
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~66 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Overcast, 87/58 F, wind 11 mph, rain 3%

Fair or better. A 11 mph breeze puts a working chop on the banks it hits: fish the wind-blown side.

Species guide

The species that matter on Sheyenne River: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Walleye illustration

Walleye

Best: May-Jun, Oct

The glass-eyed prize of northern lakes. Low light, wind-blown structure and live bait. Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

White bass illustration

White bass

Best: Mar-May run

River-run spawners and open-water schoolers. Fast limits when you find them. The spring river run: small crankbaits and roadrunners up the tributaries.

Northern pike illustration

Northern pike

Best: spring, early winter

The ambush predator of weedbeds and cabbage edges. Aggressive, big and always worth a wire leader. Weedline spinnerbaits, spoons and jerkbaits; bays with fresh green weed hold the active fish.

Crappie illustration

Crappie

Best: Nov-Mar

Brush piles, bridge pilings and standing timber. The fish fry favorite. Spawning shallow around cover in spring; jigs under a float near buck brush and laydowns.

When to come: the Sheyenne River calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Walleye
White bass
Northern pike
Crappie
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 66 F (estimated, not a reading).

304050607080JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~66 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Sheyenne River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Walleye led the card at excellent. High of 90 F, wind to 20 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Walleye led the card at excellent. High of 84 F, wind to 9 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Walleye led the card at excellent. High of 82 F, wind to 11 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
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Before you go

License

North Dakota requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

North Dakota license. Walleye, pike and catfish limits per current Game and Fish regulations.

Access

Road crossings, Fort Ransom State Park and public access areas; tailwater below Baldhill Dam.

About this water

A 590-mile river through eastern North Dakota to the Red River: the longest river entirely within the state.

Fishing Sheyenne River: the full guide

A river that wanders

The Sheyenne River flows about 590 miles through eastern North Dakota to the Red River, the longest river entirely within the state and one that meanders enormously across prairie and the Sheyenne Valley. It holds walleye, northern pike, channel catfish, smallmouth bass in the rockier reaches, and white bass and crappie in the impounded sections.

Walleye and pike

Walleye hold the deeper holes, current breaks and the tailwaters below Baldhill Dam at Lake Ashtabula, taking jigs and crankbaits with spring and fall the best windows. Northern pike inhabit the slower, weedier stretches and the backwaters, abundant and reaching good size in a river with plenty of cover.

Catfish and the valley

Channel catfish are abundant throughout and reliable on cut and prepared baits from the bank, providing the everyday fishery. The Sheyenne National Grassland and the valley’s wooded corridor make the river scenic by prairie standards, and the Fort Ransom area offers particularly attractive water with public access.

Eastern North Dakota logistics

Access is via road crossings, state parks including Fort Ransom, and public areas along the river, with Valley City, Lisbon and West Fargo along its course. Flows vary widely: spring runoff can flood the valley while late summer leaves the river low and slow. Check conditions before planning a float.

Common questions

Where is the best walleye water?

The tailwater below Baldhill Dam at Lake Ashtabula, plus the deeper holes and current breaks downstream.

Is it scenic?

By prairie standards, yes: the wooded valley and the Fort Ransom area are genuinely attractive.

Does the flow vary?

Widely: spring runoff can flood the valley while late summer leaves it low and slow.

Is fishing good at Sheyenne River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Nearby waters

Lake Ashtabula57 miOtter Tail Lake68 miJamestown Reservoir83 miPipestem Reservoir84 miWaubay Lake88 miBig Stone Lake89 mi
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