Lake Francis Fishing Guide, Bottineau County, North Dakota

• Overview

  You will find Lake Francis in Bottineau County, North Dakota. The land about it is pine and birch. With some 41 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. It sits higher than most water we list in North Dakota. Bottineau lies 11 miles from the water. After that come Deloraine at 15 miles and Boissevain at 23 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Francis

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Bottineau County include bluegill, brown bullhead and northern pike. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Work Lake Francis in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 65°F in July and bottoms out near 2°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Time your trip to Lake Francis by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Harts Lake at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Lake Francis carry more weight than any list.