Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 19, 2024
Cottonwood Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at Cottonwood Lake average 5.54 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 19, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 16–16 inches. In Cottonwood County, Minnesota, Cottonwood Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 2.1 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Cottonwood Lake
15 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Cottonwood Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Cottonwood Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Cottonwood Lake average 5.54 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 19, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 16–16 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Cottonwood Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
9 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-19 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 92.97 | 0.15 lb |
| Black Crappie | 11.89 | 0.25 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.43 | 0.15 lb |
| Bluegill | 7.26 | 0.23 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 5.54 | 2.68 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2024-08-19 survey
Cottonwood Lake is a small shallow lake, 155 acres and 11 feet max depth, located in the City of Windom in Cottonwood County. While there are many concerns about water quality and water quantity in Cottonwood Lake, the lake remains resilient and has some decent fishing at times. Cottonwood Lake is managed primarily…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Cottonwood Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CottonwoodFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CottonwoodFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CottonwoodPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Cottonwood Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Cottonwood Lake average 5.54 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 9 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 19, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 16–16 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 15 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Cottonwood Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Cottonwood Lake is dated August 19, 2024. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Cottonwood Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Cottonwood Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Cottonwood Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Cottonwood Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Cottonwood Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Cottonwood Lake
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