Fishing Plowe Lake in Stutsman County, North Dakota

• Overview

  Plowe Lake is a Stutsman County water, in North Dakota. The bank gives way to pine and birch. At 13 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our Stutsman County list. The town to know is Jamestown, 19 miles out. Further out sit Carrington (23 miles) and New Rockford (37 miles). Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Plowe Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Stutsman County: Iowa darter, pikeperch, black bullhead and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Work Plowe Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 69°F on average, January about 6°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Plowe Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Jim Lake at 2.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Plowe Lake locally before you travel.