Bitter Lake in Nelson County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Nelson County, North Dakota, this is Bitter Lake. The country here is mixed forest. Roughly 118 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. For supplies, Larimore is 26 miles out. Devils Lake follows at 33 miles, then Park River at 36 miles. Nearby alternatives: Horseshoe Lake 4.3 miles off, 5.6 miles away is Rose Lake Mary 6.3 miles off, 7.3 miles away is Olsen Slough and Stella Lake 7.3 miles off. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Bitter Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Nelson County include largemouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Anyone new to Bitter Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 68°F on average, January about 4°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Bitter Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Horseshoe Lake, 4.3 miles out. What applies at Bitter Lake may have changed since it was mapped.