Fishing at Twin Lakes, Benson County, North Dakota

• Overview

  Twin Lakes is a Benson County water, in North Dakota. The country here is pine and birch. It measures about 146 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Rugby is the closest place, 19 miles off. The nearest city of size is Winnipeg, 160 miles away. Neighbouring water: Mud Lake 2.6 miles off, Sand Lake 8 miles away, Cranberry Lake 9.3 miles off, Fish Lake 9.3 miles away and Lake Ibsen 10 miles off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Twin Lakes

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Benson County include black bullhead, white bass, northern pike and striped bass. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Treat Twin Lakes as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 68°F, the coldest about 4°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly mid November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish Twin Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Mud Lake, 2.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat Twin Lakes as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.