Every year about this time, a few anglers question North
Dakota’s year-round fishing season. It’s not so much an
opposition as it is a curiosity, because many North
Dakotans are aware that Minnesota closes its season for
game fish from late February to mid-May.
South Dakota’s regulations are much like North Dakota’s. Most waters
are open to fishing for game species year-round.
It’s a good thing that anglers are concerned about
protecting fish and making choices that benefit our
fisheries. We couldn’t have conservation and effective
fisheries management without that support.
North Dakota has had a year-round fishing season
since 1993. Prior to that, the State Game and Fish
Department closed fishing for walleye, northern pike,
bass and trout from mid-March to early May, except for
the Missouri River System, which has never had a closed
season.
The primary reason for protecting game fish in spring
is so they can go through their annual spawning ritual
without risk of getting caught. A fish caught and kept
is one less fish in the population, and a female full of
eggs can’t deposit those eggs if it’s in a freezer.
On the other hand, in North Dakota at least, studies
have shown that year-round fishing has not been
detrimental to walleye and pike populations. Fishing
pressure, except on the Missouri River and a few other
isolated areas, is generally light in the first weeks
after ice out. In addition, walleye and pike do not
naturally reproduce in many North Dakota lakes and
reservoirs. Populations in these waters are maintained
by stocking and as such there’s no need to protect fish
during the spawning period.
Many anglers, too, have become accustomed to releasing
mature female walleyes and other game fish, not just
during the prespawn period, but over the rest of the
year as well.
The primary reason for year-round fishing is simply more opportunity
for North Dakota anglers. Add up the extra six weeks a
year and over time that’s a significant amount of
fishing for those who enjoy early spring angling.
A year-round season also gives anglers a chance to
pursue fish like pike in shallow waters closer to shore.
There’s no question some trophy fish are taken during
this time when ice is just leaving our lakes. However, a
recent study documented that year-round fishing on the
Missouri River had no effect on walleye or pike
reproduction success.
What North Dakota has sacrificed the last 14 years is
a traditional opening day that generates excitement and
enthusiasm, and perhaps even license sales to anglers
who would only fish the opener as more of a social
outing. An opening day might be the most popular fishing
day of the year.
Some people think year-round fishing may create a need
for increased enforcement activity. However, even states
that have closed seasons for some species allow fishing
for panfish, so wardens would be on duty anyway,
monitoring for illegal activity.
While the change in the way North Dakota’s fishing season is set up
didn’t create much controversy, it did create a bit of
confusion for a few years as anglers were accustomed to
renewing their fishing license right before the opener.
Without an opener, the Game and Fish Department set
April 1 as the fishing license renewal date.
So, from here on out you can go fishing in North
Dakota whenever the weather is right. Just don’t forget
to buy a new license.
