When the Garrison Dam stilled the Missouri, it created Lake Sakakawea — an inland sea nearly two hundred miles long, one of the largest reservoirs in the country, and a fishery of national reputation. Anglers come from across the region to work its bays and points for walleye, the golden-flanked fish that is the prize of northern waters.

Chasing the Golden Fish

The walleye's habits shift with the season, from the spring spawning runs up the shoreline to the deep summer haunts along the old river channel, and the lake's regulars follow them with jigs, crawler harnesses and an encyclopedic knowledge of the bottom. Northern pike, salmon and smallmouth bass round out the catch.

From the almanac's reckoning:

• Lake Sakakawea stretches nearly two hundred miles behind the Garrison Dam.
• Walleye are the prize catch, followed by pike, salmon and bass.
• Anglers track the walleye from spring shallows to deep summer channels.

The lake is moody and immense, and its sudden winds have taught many a boater respect, but on a fair morning with the walleye biting there are few finer places to hold a rod. The almanac counts Lake Sakakawea among the crown jewels of the plains outdoors.