Wood Lake in Dickey County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Dickey County in North Dakota is where Wood Lake sits. The setting is rolling bush on every side. At 470 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. There is roughly 4.9 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. You are 20 miles from Ellendale. Further out sit Oakes (40 miles) and Aberdeen (47 miles). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Wood Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Reported across Dickey County: black crappie, bluegill, black bullhead, common carp and largemouth bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Wood Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 70°F at the top of summer and 9°F at the bottom of winter. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Wood Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Wilson Dam, 11 miles out. Confirm access to Wood Lake locally before you travel.