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Fishing Northgate Dam: what the data says
284-acre reservoir near North Dakota. North Dakota Game & Fish survey water. The lake tops out around 23 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Walleye fishing at Northgate Dam
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 7 to 23 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 23 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 19 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Crappie fishing at Northgate Dam
Spring crappie on Northgate Dam hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 7 to 23 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 23 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 22 ft, rated prime for winter crappie. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Bluegill fishing at Northgate Dam
In spring, bluegill run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 23 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring bluegill. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Northgate Dam
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 23 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 23 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 19 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 23 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Northgate Dam
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 7 to 23 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring largemouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 22 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 19 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Northgate Dam?
Northgate Dam is about 23 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 Northgate Dam?
Anglers target largemouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, rainbow trout on Northgate Dam.
Where is the best fishing spot on Northgate Dam?
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 19 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 Northgate Dam?
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
Smishek Lake · Short Creek Dam · Clearwater Lake · Powers Lake · Stanley Reservoir · White Earth Dam
See how Northgate Dam stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in North Dakota · best walleye lakes in North Dakota · best crappie lakes in North Dakota · best bluegill 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.