Fishing at Lake Laretta, Nelson County, North Dakota

• Overview

  Lake Laretta is one of the Nelson County listings for North Dakota. The water sits 1,499 feet up. The water covers around 818 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The perimeter runs near 8.8 miles, so plan the walk before you start. On our Nelson County list it sits near the top for size. The closest town, Larimore, is 28 miles distant. Then Park River, 30 miles, and Devils Lake, 32 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Laretta

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. 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. Reported across Nelson County: largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and bluegill. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Lake Laretta the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 68°F and January near 3°F on the long-run figures. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. At Lake Laretta the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Lake Mary sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Lake Laretta before loading the car.