North Dakota Just Stocked Almost 12 Million Walleye Across The State

Nearly 12 million walleye fingerlings were stocked in waters across North Dakota this summer, as state and federal hatchery efforts combined with favorable environmental conditions to support strong fish production, officials said.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department said approximately 11 million walleye were raised at Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery, with another 1.1 million produced at Valley City National Fish Hatchery. While the total falls just short of the record production of more than 12 million set in 2017, officials said distribution strategies differed this year.

“Traditionally, on large production years, significant numbers of walleye fingerlings would go to big systems,” said Jerry Weigel, the department’s fish production and development section supervisor. “But this year, 2.3 million walleye went into Lake Sakakawea and just under 500,000 into Stump, Darling and Ashtabula, with the remaining fish stocked into over 150 other lakes.”

Each spring, fisheries crews collect walleye eggs and transport them to federal hatcheries, where they are incubated and hatched. The young fry are then placed into production ponds. After about a month of growth, the fish reach fingerling size, about 1 inch or larger, and are stocked into lakes statewide.

Game and Fish officials said distribution crews traveled more than 12,000 miles over a two-week period in June to complete the stocking effort.

Weigel said conditions during stocking were particularly favorable this year.

“Stocking conditions in 2026 were optimal given the unusually cool temperatures over the weeks in June when fish were being stocked,” he said.

Officials added that receiving waters were rich in invertebrates, a key food source for young walleye, improving the likelihood of survival and growth.

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In addition to walleye, the department stocked 1.1 million northern pike fingerlings into 37 waters statewide. These stockings are typically limited to lakes that do not support walleye populations but offer unique angling opportunities.

Officials said continued partnerships with federal hatcheries, along with consistent stocking efforts and favorable environmental conditions, are expected to support strong fishing opportunities across North Dakota in the coming years.