South Lake of the Island Fishing near Bottineau, North Dakota

• Overview

  South Lake of the Island lies within the bounds of Rolette County, North Dakota. Around the bank it is mixed forest. Surface area is around 31 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Roughly 1.2 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It is a small entry by Rolette County standards. Some 16 miles away sits Bottineau, the nearest settlement. For a city, Winnipeg is 151 miles off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on South Lake of the Island

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Rolette County records list bluegill, northern pike and white bass among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Take South Lake of the Island a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 1°F in January up to 65°F in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. The lid tends to go about late April and return around mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On South Lake of the Island that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. North Lake of the Island at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat South Lake of the Island as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.