Fishing at Centre Fence Lake, Rolette County, North Dakota

• Overview

  Centre Fence Lake is one of the Rolette County listings for North Dakota. It lies 2,208 feet above sea level. The water covers some 86 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline length is close to 3.1 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. It is high ground by North Dakota standards. Deloraine sits 15 miles from the bank. Winnipeg sits 152 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Centre Fence Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Rolette County cover bluegill, northern pike, white bass, yellow perch and johnny darter. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Centre Fence Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 65°F and January reads 1°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. At Centre Fence Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Cauldwell Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Centre Fence Lake is worth confirming on the day.