One North Dakota Lake Stays Warm & Never Freezes

The area lakes have been making some serious ice the last couple of weeks! 

After a pretty warm fall, it was almost like a light switch in mid-January, and winter arrived in North Dakota. As we head deeper into Winter 2026, you can bet we still have some winter weather coming our way as we head into February and March. More on that in a future article.

If you find yourself wishing you could be in a boat this winter instead of an ice house, you're in luck.

Did you know there's actually a lake in North Dakota where a good portion of it stays open year-round?  That's right, even in the heart of winter.

Introducing Nelson Lake near Center, North Dakota.

This is a lake I've been going to for many, many years.  Not only is it a very popular place to go bass fishing (the state record Largemouth Bass was caught there in the 80s), but it's a very popular recreation area.  Waterskiing, jetskiing, camping, and a popular fishing destination.  Yep, even in January.

Find a nice February or March afternoon, and not only will you see people fishing where the Minnkota Power Plant discharges warm water into the lake, but you might even see a few "die-hards" like me in a boat.

Nelsen Lake's water is used to cool the Minnkota Power Plant. This is a really unique body of water.  You certainly won't find another lake like this in North Dakota, and very few like Nelson in the upper Midwest. 

Water temperatures vary greatly depending on where you are on the lake, but in the winter months, they could range from 45 to 60 degrees.  The water temperatures in the summer get much warmer, where you could see temperatures in the 80s or higher. 

I've heard stories of people waterskiing on Nelson Lake in January.  

You never know when a warm spell might hit this winter, and that brings out the diehards.  As crazy as that sounds.

Besides Largemouth Bass fishing, Nelson Lake is also a very good lake to catch Crappies and Bluegills.  If you're tired of using little rods and ice fishing, here's a very unique opportunity to fish an open body of water in North Dakota.  There's even a fishing pier near the warm water discharge.

Nelson Lake is about 30 minutes from Mandan, right off Highway 25. According to Lake-Link.com, the lake is 573 acres, and the deepest point of the lake is about 35 feet deep. 

I know the first warm February weekend of 2026, you'll find my son and me working on our cabin fever and having some fun on the open water.  Even in February.  I can't wait.  By the way, the state record Largemouth Bass record is due to fall.  It's been around way too long.  I'm just sayin'.