Maier Lake Fishing Guide, Emmons County, North Dakota

• Overview

  Look for Maier Lake in the Emmons County part of North Dakota. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. It runs to roughly 37 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. It is a small entry by Emmons County standards. Nearest place of any size is Linton, 2.9 miles away. After that come Lincoln at 41 miles and Bismarck at 46 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Maier Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Emmons County, recorded fish include northern pike. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Maier Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 7°F in January up to 71°F in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Maier Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Kremer Lake, 4.4 miles away. What applies at Maier Lake may have changed since it was mapped.