Clouds Lake Fishing near Britton, North Dakota

• Overview

  Clouds Lake is set in Sargent County, North Dakota. Elevation runs to 1,168 feet. The water covers some 102 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The whole outline is near 1.9 miles, and most of it is walkable. Our Sargent County list holds plenty of bigger water. The town to know is Britton, 21 miles out. For a city, Fargo is 68 miles off. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Clouds Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Sargent County cover bluegill and white crappie. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Take Clouds Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 71°F in July and bottoms out near 8°F in January. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Clouds Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, White Lake is 2.3 miles off. None of that is settled for Clouds Lake in what we hold.