Fishing attracts thousands of visitors to Lake Sakakawea every year. Here fishermen gather for the annual Governor’s Cup Walleye Derby at Fort Stevenson State Park. Kim Fundingsland/MDN

There is no question about it. Lake Sakakawea is a marvelous and well-used attraction for both local and out-of-state residents.

Pick a day of the week, any summer day, and you’ll find hundreds of boats on the water at Lake Sakakawea. It is common to see parking lots at boat ramps filled with tow vehicles and boat trailers, and not just on weekends. You’ll see license plates from several states, even Canadian provinces, on tow vehicles too. Yes, Lake Sakakawea is a preferred destination for water lovers of all sorts for a wide variety of reasons.

Fantastic fishing is a one of the big draws. People come from near and far, generally targeting the abundant walleye population in the state’s largest impoundment. But there’s other fish too – northern pike, salmon and smallmouth bass among them, waiting to thrill fishermen of all ages.

“Obviously here in North Dakota we have one of the highest percentage of the population that fishes. That’s fundamental,” said Dave Fryda. Fryda is the North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries supervisor for Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River. “Year in and year out Sakakawea is the number one fishery, except during drought.”

The economic impact of Lake Sakakawea is immense. In addition to thousands of fishermen the big water is a destination for countless pleasure boaters and water enthusiasts. Campgrounds adjacent to Lake Sakakawea are in high demand, generally bulging at the seams, or close to it, for much of the summer.

People like to be close to the water for a many reasons, whether it be to enjoy a refreshing swim, take a quiet walk on endless shoreline or watch a gorgeous setting sun. Lake Sakakawea provides the perfect setting for thousands of visitors every year.

“It’s a wonderful reservoir and lots of space to stretch out,” said Chad Trautman, manager of Fort Stevenson State Park located south of Garrison. “It gives the opportunity for those users to really take advantage of such a beautiful lake.”

Trautman recognizes the importance of fishing in being a big draw for visitors from near and far, saying, “They are just more and more pleased with the size and class of fish that they are pulling out and how everything is looking.”

Water access is a key to attracting visitors to Lake Sakakawea, for fishermen and other recreationists who have discovered numerous and entertaining ways to utilize the lake.

“The lake seems to be drawing more and more people for sailboating and those types of recreational activities as well,” said Trautman. “We are getting more and more interest from out-of-state, out of the region, of people wanting to come to Fort Stevenson and Lake Sakakawea in general.”

The impact of Lake Sakakawea users is felt in several communities located near the lake that experience a big boost in tourism, even day use, especially during the summer months. Stu Merry, mayor of Garrison, knows full well the importance of Lake Sakakawea to his lakeside community.

“Garrison would not be what it is today without the lake,” stated Merry. “We are very fortunate in that aspect where other small towns are struggling. We have that lake three miles away.”

Located in McLean County, Garrison has indeed benefited from an annual influx of visitors to Lake Sakakawea. Many have come to enjoy the area so much that they have decided to build a summer cabin, or a four-season home, near the water.

According to the McLean County Assessor’s Office, 75% of development in McLean County has been along the north side of Lake Sakakawea in close proximity to Garrison where the in-town population is about 1,600 people. However, explained Merry, when all the cabin and home sites nearby are added in Garrison’s population “would double easily, easily.”

“We consider those people members of our community,” stated Merry. “They come to our churches, shop in our stores and go to our movies. They are actually our family. Without the lake there would be none of that, or very little.”

Fort Stevenson State Park has seen their visitation numbers surge for the past several years, so much so that plans are in the works to add additional campsites to the park. Trautman says he expects work to begin later this fall so that the campsites will be ready for use in 2020.

“Lake Sakakawea could use a few more areas, not only for camping but water access as well,” added Trautman.

Day users have found state parks and other locations along Lake Sakakawea much to their liking, even when their favorite campgrounds are filled. Many special events have become “don’t miss” days for state parks visitors eager to spend quality time outdoors. A complete listing of special events can be found at parkrec.nd.gov.

“To put it in perspective, we’ve seen our visitation numbers consistently climbing,” said Trautman. “I don’t see it slowing down at any time.”

Welcome to sprawling Lake Sakakawea.