Lesmeister Lake Fishing in Pierce County, North Dakota

• Overview

  Set in Pierce County, North Dakota, this is Lesmeister Lake. It lies 1,526 feet above sea level. The water covers some 181 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Some 5.0 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. Harvey is the closest place, 16 miles off. Fargo is the closest city, 169 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lesmeister Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On Lesmeister Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one. Where reeds break, there is usually a route in for fish.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 69°F, with January the cold end at about 6°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Lesmeister Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Sandy Lakes, 2.4 miles out. For Lesmeister Lake in particular, ask before you travel.