Cotton Lake

Cotton Lake is a lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Cotton Lake covers about 1,783 acres, reaches a recorded 28 feet and holds about 29,100 acre-feet.

How the Size and Shape of Cotton Lake Affect Fishing

Cotton Lake is too large to fish all at once, so pick one group of coves and points and stay there long enough to learn what the fish are using.

Fish and Baits at Cotton Lake

Fish reported from Cotton Lake include banded killifish, black bullhead, black crappie, blackchin shiner, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brown bullhead, cisco, common shiner, fathead minnow, green sunfish, hornyhead chub, iowa darter, johnny darter, largemouth bass, logperch, mimic shiner, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, spottail shiner, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.

Bass

For bass at Cotton, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth.

Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish

For panfish at Cotton, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill, pumpkinseed, and green sunfish, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.

Walleye

For roaming fish at Cotton, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.

Northern Pike

For large predators at Cotton, cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.

Bullheads

For bottom fishing at Cotton, fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads.

Rock Bass

At Cotton, use a small jig, worm or tiny crankbait around rock and firm shorelines for rock bass.

Cisco

For other cold-water fish at Cotton, use a tiny jig or small spoon at the depth where cisco are schooling.

How the Seasons Change Cotton Lake

Spring at Cotton is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer is a good time to fish shade, weeds and the first drop into deeper water. Fall at Cotton can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.

A Simple Plan for Fishing Cotton Lake

On a first trip to Cotton, check one quiet cove, one rocky or firm point and the nearby deep water with a moving lure, then use a jig or worm where you find fish.

Useful Tackle for Cotton Lake

A medium spinning rod covers smaller lures at Cotton, while a heavier rod and stronger leader are better for northern pike.

Cotton Lake FAQs

Where should an angler start on the 1,783-acre Cotton Lake?

At Cotton, pick one cove and the closest point or drop into deep water, then fish that small area well before making a long move.

Should anglers fish the 28-foot deep end of Cotton Lake?

Not every trip. A better place at Cotton is where a point, drop-off or group of baitfish gives the fish a reason to stop.

What does the 29,100 acre-foot storage figure mean at Cotton Lake?

At Cotton, it shows that a lot of the water sits away from the bank and around the old channel or deep end.