Scotts Lake in Stutsman County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Scotts Lake is a Stutsman County water, in North Dakota. The surface lies 1,467 feet up. Roughly 30 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 1.1 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Stutsman County. Nearest place of any size is Jamestown, 14 miles away. Fargo is the closest city, 80 miles away. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Scotts Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Stutsman County names Iowa darter, pikeperch and black bullhead. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Fish Scotts Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 69°F; by January the average is down near 6°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and late November closes it again. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan any trip to Scotts Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Island Lake, 8.6 miles away. Treat access at Scotts Lake as something to verify.