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Patterson Lake: Midweek Window Mon–Thu
Patterson Lake · Mon Sep 21 – Thu Sep 24, 2026 · bank / kayak / boat · CT
Patterson Lake midweek Cast — fish the pattern, not the rumor mill.
Midweek outlook
Point: NWS ~3 mi WSW Dickinson / Patterson (46.86N 102.87W)
Source: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=46.8667&lon=-102.8536 (NWS text forecast pulled Sun Sep 20, 2026 afternoon CT/EDT as posted)
Obs pressure nearby: Nearby KDIK ~30.17 in (Sun afternoon MDT)
- **Mon 21:** High ~66°F, decreasing clouds; SE 5–11 mph, gusts ~20
- **Tue 22:** High ~69°F, partly sunny and breezy; SE 13–22 mph, gusts ~32
- **Wed 23:** High ~74°F, showers likely (~60%) afternoon; SE 10–16 mph
- **Thu 24:** High ~81°F, mostly sunny; SE 5–7 mph; low ~53°F
Pressure / pattern: Mild Mon → breezy Tue → warmer Wed with storms → warm quiet Thu.
Rule: Numbers above are from NWS text forecast as fetched — do not invent finer precision. Re-pull at Sunday 11:00 PM CT gather.
Dam & current / Generator schedule
Operator: Municipal / local reservoir (Patterson Lake Rec Area, Dickinson) — not a mainstem hydro dam.
Levels: Exact elev not captured this pass — THIN. Check City of Dickinson / recreation pages at assemble if posted.
Generator schedule language: N/A typical peaking generation. Wind and recreational traffic dominate.
Sources: Local rec area notices — re-fetch at gather.
Schedules change — verify dam boards before you go (CT).
How to fish it — Bank / Kayak / Boat
Bank
- Morning shade, riprap, creek mouths
- Match stain; lightning plan if storms
Kayak
- Protected arms in wind
- PFD; respect dam zones
Boat
- Graph bait; points/bluffs/ledges
- Idle clear of blast-off lanes
Ethanol-free fuel near this water
Pin: see `north-dakota-cast-map-pins.md`.
Source: Pure-Gas.org GraphQL `stationsByState` (pulled Sun Sep 20, 2026 CT). Prices not listed — call to confirm E0 still available and current price.
- **0.7 mi** — Hub C Store (MOBIL), 191 40th St W, Dickinson ND — listed E0 octane(s): 87, 91; tel 701-483-3835 [Pure-Gas id 16585]
- **2.9 mi** — Tri-Energy Cooperative (CENEX), 635 W Villard St, Dickinson ND — listed E0 octane(s): 87; tel 701-483-0330 [Pure-Gas id 43382]
- **3.0 mi** — Mobil (MOBIL), 450 E Villard St, Dickinson ND — listed E0 octane(s): 91; tel 701-225-4700 [Pure-Gas id 15013]
- **3.5 mi** — Luckies (ARCO), 450 12th St W, Dickinson ND — listed E0 octane(s): 87, 91; tel 701-483-5724 [Pure-Gas id 51450]
- Verify before fuel stop; listings change.
Pure-Gas.org crowdsourced E0 — verify at pump. No invented prices.
Lure box — Top / Mid / Bottom
Top
- Walker / popper early
- Buzzbait on storm edges
Mid
- Spinnerbait / chatter if stained
- Swimbait on bait
Bottom
- Jig / soft craw
- Ned / Texas worm
Life stage + What’s on the menu
Primary species: Walleye
Bass life stage (late Sep ND — seasonal): Fall transition / pre-turnover window depending on lake depth. Cooler nights push bait shallow-to-mid; largemouth and smallmouth (where present) key on bait schools and wind-blown banks. Deep mainstem reservoirs: focus points, flooded timber edges, and current seams near structure.
What’s on the menu: Most likely young-of-year baitfish / cisco-smelt-shad analogs by water, perch/bluegill where present. Thin on dated 2026 forage reports this pass — seasonal most-likely only.
Also on this water
Walleye; northern pike; panfish; trout if stocked (confirm GF).
(Regs: live-link NDGF only — do not invent.)
Heavy Traffic
In Cast window / looking ahead: No named tournament pulled for Patterson Lake Sep 21–Oct mid this pass.
Sources checked: ND GF permitted list
Looking ahead
Warm Thu (~81°F). Local rec pressure weekends; no sourced tournaments this pass.