Fishing Siebold Lake in McLean County, North Dakota

• Overview

  North Dakota holds Siebold Lake, in McLean County. Height above sea level is 1,926 feet. Surface area is around 42 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. There is roughly 1.8 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It is one of the smaller waters we list in McLean County. 29 miles away sits Harvey, the nearest town. Velva is 30 miles away, with Washburn at 36 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Siebold Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across McLean County, recorded fish include bluegill, rainbow smelt, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. Siebold Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 68°F; by January the average is down near 8°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Plan around that when you fish Siebold Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The water borders National Waterfoul Production Area, so expect the reserve rules to apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. England Lake, 2.1 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Siebold Lake are worth checking on the day.