Hillesland Lake Fishing near Larimore, North Dakota

• Overview

  North Dakota holds Hillesland Lake, in Nelson County. It sits at 1,483 feet above sea level. Roughly 41 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The full circuit measures close to 1.4 miles on foot. It is a small entry by Nelson County standards. Some 20 miles away sits Larimore, the nearest settlement. It is 83 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Hillesland Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Nelson County cover largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and bluegill. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Hillesland Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 68°F; by January the average is down near 4°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about mid November in an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Hillesland Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Matson Slough, 2.2 miles out. For Hillesland Lake in particular, ask before you travel.