Round Lake in Richland County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Round Lake is set in Richland County, North Dakota. It sits at 1,066 feet above sea level. At roughly 15 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Richland County list. Wahpeton is the closest place, 21 miles off. Breckenridge lies 22 miles off, Wheaton another 27 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Round Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Richland County records list bluegill, white sucker, common carp, Iowa darter and smallmouth bass among the fish reported. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Round Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 9°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. On Round Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. The water borders Mud Lake Wildlife Management Area, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Willard Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Round Lake locally before you travel.