Opitz Lake in Marshall County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Opitz Lake belongs to Marshall County, South Dakota. It lies 1,778 feet above sea level. The water covers around 2.6 sq miles, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. You are looking at roughly 7.9 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. On our Marshall County list it sits near the top for size. Start from Webster, 18 miles down the road. Fargo sits 95 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Opitz Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Public occurrence data for Marshall County names bluegill, common carp and northern pike. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read Opitz Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 9°F to 71°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan around that when you fish Opitz Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Cattail Lake, 4 miles out. Confirm access to Opitz Lake locally before you travel.