Walleye fishing at Cottonwood Lake

Spring walleye on Cottonwood Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 13 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 13 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 13 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 11 ft, rated prime for fall walleye. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.

Northern Pike fishing at Cottonwood Lake

In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 13 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 13 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.

Yellow Perch fishing at Cottonwood Lake

In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 13 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 13 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Cottonwood Lake

In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 13 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 13 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 7 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.

White Bass fishing at Cottonwood Lake

Spring white bass on Cottonwood Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 13 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 13 ft. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for white bass in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.

Crappie fishing at Cottonwood Lake

Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 13 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 13 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.

How deep is Cottonwood Lake?

Cottonwood Lake is about 13 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 Cottonwood Lake?

Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, yellow perch on Cottonwood Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on Cottonwood Lake?

Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 11 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 Cottonwood 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.