Epping Dam, North Dakota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Epping Dam in Williams County, North Dakota. The country here is pine and birch. With some 130 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Bank access stretches around 3.0 miles in total. Our Williams County list holds plenty of bigger water. 12 miles away sits Williston, the nearest town. Regina is the closest city, 160 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Epping Dam

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Reported across Williams County: northern pike, Iowa darter, black bullhead, bluegill and tadpole madtom. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Epping Dam the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 69°F, with January the cold end at about 8°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Epping Dam follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, McLeod at 12 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Epping Dam is worth confirming on the day.