Round Lake, North Dakota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Within Griggs County, North Dakota, you have Round Lake. It sits at 1,440 feet above sea level. Roughly 44 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 1.0 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Griggs County list. Carrington lies 37 miles from the water. It is 85 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Round Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Griggs County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Round Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 5°F in January and 69°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Time your trip to Round Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Sibley Lake Wildlife Management Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Phelps Lake sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Round Lake carry more weight than any list.