Fishing at Lagerquist Lake, Rolette County, North Dakota

• Overview

  Rolette County in North Dakota is where Lagerquist Lake sits. It lies 2,073 feet above sea level. With some 133 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. With about 1.6 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. For supplies, Shell Valley is 17 miles out. For a city, Winnipeg is 149 miles off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lagerquist Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Rolette County include bluegill, northern pike, white bass, yellow perch and johnny darter. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Lagerquist Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 65°F and January near 1°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The open-water window runs from around late April to about mid November in an average year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Lagerquist Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Bacon Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Lagerquist Lake if anything is unclear.