Fishing at South Washington Lake, Benson County, North Dakota

• Overview

  South Washington Lake sits within Benson County in North Dakota. The water sits 1,463 feet up. It runs to roughly 212 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 2.7 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Head to New Rockford, 21 miles away, for anything you forgot. Fort Totten lies 23 miles off, Carrington another 28 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on South Washington Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Benson County: black bullhead, white bass and northern pike. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. South Washington Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 69°F and January near 4°F on the long-run figures. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. That is the shape of the year on South Washington Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Lake Coe is 2 miles distant. Rules at South Washington Lake are worth checking on the day.