South Loon Lake near Bottineau: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for South Loon Lake in the Bottineau County part of North Dakota. It sits in mixed forest country. At about 82 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The bank runs about 1.4 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. It sits higher than most water we list in North Dakota. The nearest town is Bottineau, 9.3 miles away. Deloraine lies 20 miles off, Shell Valley another 22 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on South Loon Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Bottineau County include bluegill, brown bullhead, northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. South Loon Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 65°F and January near 1°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near mid November in autumn. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on South Loon Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Loon Lake is 0.6 miles distant. What applies at South Loon Lake may have changed since it was mapped.