Jamestown Reservoir in Stutsman County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Jamestown Reservoir lies within the bounds of Stutsman County, North Dakota. It stands 1,414 feet above sea level. At about 23 miles of edge, most people fish a single area and learn it well. By surface area it heads our Stutsman County listings. Head to Jamestown, 7.8 miles away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, Carrington at 35 miles and Valley City at 35 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Jamestown Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Across Stutsman County, recorded fish include Iowa darter, pikeperch and black bullhead. The county list is broader than any single water. At Jamestown Reservoir light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 69°F in July and bottom out at 7°F in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. Open water usually runs from mid April until about late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It holds true on Jamestown Reservoir more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Pipestem Lake is 4.8 miles off. Check the position at Jamestown Reservoir before loading the car.