Paddlefish season
Activity starts May 1 at the confluence of Missouri and Yellowstone rivers
Paddlefishing in North Dakota is a unique angling experience centered around the pursuit of the very large, prehistoric-looking fish. These ancient fish can live to be more than 60 years old and many exceed 100 pounds. The largest paddlefish ever taken in North Dakota was a 131-pounder caught by Grant Werkmeister of Williston in 2016. The fish was 71 inches long.
2025 Season Information
Snagging of paddlefish is legal May 1 through May 21 for those with a valid paddlefish tag. Paddlefish is the only species of fish with an in-season closure in North Dakota. That's why many people get out as soon as the snagging season begins in the area around the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers in northwest North Dakota west of the U.S. Highway 85 bridge to the Montana border. The season lasts only until pre-determined harvest limits are reached.
Additional paddlefish season information
Select Days Set Aside for Harvest and Release Only
Paddlefish snagging is legal only from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Central Time) during each day of the paddlefish snagging season. All paddlefish snagged and tagged must be removed from the river by 7 p.m. of each snagging day.
HARVEST-ONLY DAYS are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
On these days, all paddlefish caught must be tagged immediately with one’s own tag. Season creel limit is one paddlefish. The release of paddlefish after snagging is illegal.
SNAG-AND-RELEASE-ONLY DAYS are Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays
If snaggers have in possession their own unused and current year’s paddlefish tag, they can snag but must release immediately any and all paddlefish snagged on each Sunday, Monday and Thursday throughout the open season. No harvest of any paddlefish is allowed during these days.
View harvest and release regulations
Accommodations, Dining and More
While the campground near the confluence is convenient, there are so many other lodging options in Williston as well! The Williston area offers new adventures and historic attractions. Find more shopping, dining, hotels and fun attractions than you ever expected, including frontier forts, the state's largest indoor rec center and waterpark, world-class golf, and much more.
Check out Williston's lodging, dining and more!
