Fishing Metigoshe Lake in Bottineau County, North Dakota

• Overview

  Metigoshe Lake falls in Bottineau County, part of North Dakota. Around the bank it is rolling bush. About 2.5 sq miles, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. Some 18 miles of shoreline means conditions can differ from one end to the other. Nothing else we list in Bottineau County covers more water. Bottineau sits 11 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Winnipeg is 157 miles off. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Metigoshe Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Records held for Bottineau County cover bluegill, brown bullhead and northern pike. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Metigoshe Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 65°F and January near 2°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It sets the rhythm of the year at Metigoshe Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Lake Bennett is 1.1 miles off. None of that is settled for Metigoshe Lake in what we hold.