Walleye fishing at Cooks

In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 19 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 19 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 9 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.

Yellow Perch fishing at Cooks

Spring yellow perch on Cooks hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 6 to 19 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 19 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.

Northern Pike fishing at Cooks

In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 6 to 19 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring northern pike. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Cooks

Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 19 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 19 ft. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.

Largemouth Bass fishing at Cooks

Spring largemouth bass on Cooks hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 19 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 19 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. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.

Crappie fishing at Cooks

Spring crappie on Cooks hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 6 to 19 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 19 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 16 ft, rated prime for winter crappie. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.

How deep is Cooks?

Cooks is about 19 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in Cooks?

Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead on Cooks.

Where is the best fishing spot on Cooks?

Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 9 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 Cooks?

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.