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Fishing Larson Lake: what the data says
344-acre lake near Hettinger County. North Dakota Game & Fish survey water. The lake tops out around 11 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Walleye fishing at Larson Lake
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 3 to 11 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 11 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 11 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for fall walleye. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 11 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Northern Pike fishing at Larson Lake
Spring northern pike on Larson Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 3 to 11 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 11 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Yellow Perch fishing at Larson Lake
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 11 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 11 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 11 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 11 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Larson Lake
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 11 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 11 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 11 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for winter smallmouth bass. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
White Bass fishing at Larson Lake
In spring, white bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 11 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 11 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 11 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 11 ft, rated prime for winter white bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday | see map |
Crappie fishing at Larson Lake
Spring crappie on Larson Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 11 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 11 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Larson Lake also holds bluegill (3 to 11 ft in summer), channel catfish (3 to 11 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 11 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 4 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 2 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Larson Lake?
Larson Lake is about 11 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Larson Lake?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, yellow perch on Larson Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Larson Lake?
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Larson Lake?
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Indian Creek Dam · Mirror Lake · Cedar Lake · Dickinson Reservoir (Patterson Lake) · Gascoyne Lake · Heart Butte Reservoir (Lake Tschida)
See how Larson Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in North Dakota · best walleye lakes in North Dakota · best white bass lakes in North Dakota · best northern pike lakes in North Dakota
Browse all North Dakota fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.