Fishing at Runner Slough, Stutsman County, North Dakota

• Overview

  Look for Runner Slough in Stutsman County, North Dakota. What surrounds it is mixed forest. Roughly 453 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. At about 3.5 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Jamestown is the closest place, 20 miles off. Then Carrington, 39 miles, and Valley City, 54 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Runner Slough

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Stutsman County include Iowa darter, pikeperch, black bullhead, northern pike and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Runner Slough the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 70°F, the coldest about 7°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Expect Runner Slough to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Trautman Slough sits 4.3 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Runner Slough may have changed since it was mapped.