Wilson Dam near Ellendale: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Dickey County, North Dakota, this is Wilson Dam. The water sits 1,604 feet up. The water covers some 53 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 1.4 miles of margin, front to back. Most waters listed here for Dickey County are larger. Ellendale lies 16 miles from the water. For a city, Fargo is 105 miles off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Wilson Dam

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Species logged across Dickey County include black crappie, bluegill and black bullhead. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Wilson Dam the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 70°F, while January sits near 10°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. At Wilson Dam the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A boat ramp sits about half a mile from the water. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Wood Lake at 11 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Wilson Dam for certain.