Wendland Lake near Shell Valley: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Rolette County, North Dakota, this is Wendland Lake. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. Surface area is around 32 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Most waters listed here for Rolette County are larger. Some 8.1 miles away sits Shell Valley, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Winnipeg, 143 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Wendland Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name bluegill, northern pike and white bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The near bank of Wendland Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 65°F; the cold one sits at 1°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan around that when you fish Wendland Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. School Section Lake, 0.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Wendland Lake in particular, ask before you travel.