Spring Lake Fishing near Fort Totten, North Dakota

• Overview

  Within Benson County, North Dakota, you have Spring Lake. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. About 888 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. Size puts it in the front rank of our Benson County list. The nearest place of any size is Fort Totten, 8.3 miles away. Further out sit Devils Lake (12 miles) and New Rockford (24 miles). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Spring Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Benson County cover black bullhead, white bass, northern pike, striped bass and tadpole madtom. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Spring Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 5°F to 68°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about mid November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. That shapes the year on Spring Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Square Lake, 2.8 miles away. Signs at Spring Lake carry more weight than any list.