Fishing at Lake Coe, Foster County, North Dakota

• Overview

  Look for Lake Coe in Foster County, North Dakota. This is rolling bush country. At 748 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The perimeter runs near 7.1 miles, so plan the walk before you start. On our Foster County list it sits near the top for size. Start from New Rockford, 21 miles down the road. The big place round here is Fargo, 106 miles distant. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Lake Coe

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On Lake Coe that means starting tight and working out. One good feature beats a mile of plain bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 69°F and January at 4°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. At Lake Coe the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is South Washington Lake, 2 miles out. Check the position on Lake Coe before loading the car.