Billings Lake Fishing near Langdon, North Dakota

• Overview

  Set in Cavalier County, North Dakota, this is Billings Lake. Height above sea level is 1,545 feet. Around 59 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. With about 1.7 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Nearest place of any size is Langdon, 13 miles away. It is 107 miles to Winnipeg, the nearest city. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Billings Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Cavalier County, recorded fish include blackside darter and common carp. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Fish Billings Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 66°F, with January the cold end at about 2°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That is the shape of the year on Billings Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Part of this sits inside or beside Billings Lake National Wildlife Refuge, so read the notices. For the carp, bait a margin spot and sit on it; corn and bread still work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Langdon Reservoir, 12 miles away. What applies at Billings Lake may have changed since it was mapped.