Cottonwood

Grant County, Minnesota — DOW #26018500

93 Surveys

254.73

Acres

16 ft

Max Depth

10.1 ft

Mean Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on Cottonwood. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Hybrid Sunfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1984-08-06	Standard gill nets	0.5	—	0.60 lb	1

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1984-08-06	Standard gill nets	5.0 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	0.55 lb	10
1998-06-08	3/8-in trap nets	0.5	—	0.88 lb	2
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	2.3 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.08 lb	7
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.4	—	1.31 lb	2
2008-06-02	Standard gill nets	2.5 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	2.22 lb	15
2008-06-02	Standard trap nets	0.2	—	2.75 lb	2
2001-06-05	Standard gill nets	3.3 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	2.17 lb	13
2001-06-05	Standard trap nets	0.6	—	2.63 lb	6
1979-08-01	Standard gill nets	18.5 (above normal)	2.0 – 10.8	0.85 lb	37
1979-08-01	Standard trap nets	7.0	—	2.61 lb	21
2024-06-03	Standard gill nets	5.5 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	2.60 lb	33
2024-06-03	Standard trap nets	1.1	—	1.92 lb	10
1995-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	2.0 – 10.8	3.15 lb	3
2018-06-04	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	2.0 – 10.8	0.90 lb	1
2018-06-04	Standard trap nets	0.2	—	3.13 lb	2

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1984-08-06	Standard gill nets	30.0 (above normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.33 lb	60
1993-07-27	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.73 lb	1
2001-06-05	1/4-in trap nets	25.2	—	—	126
2001-06-05	Standard trap nets	1.3 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.59 lb	13
1979-08-01	Standard gill nets	37.0 (above normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.39 lb	74
1979-08-01	Standard trap nets	92.3 (above normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.46 lb	277
2024-06-03	Standard trap nets	0.7 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	1.82 lb	6
1995-07-25	Standard trap nets	1.2 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.61 lb	11
1995-07-25	Survey seining	1.0	—	—	4
2018-06-04	Standard gill nets	1.7 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.22 lb	10
2018-06-04	Standard trap nets	4.8 (normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.23 lb	43

Black Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1984-08-06	Standard gill nets	40.5 (normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.51 lb	81
1993-07-27	Standard gill nets	283.7 (above normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.46 lb	851
1993-07-27	Standard trap nets	146.2 (above normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.54 lb	1316
1992-06-17	Standard gill nets	286.0 (above normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.36 lb	286
1992-06-17	Standard trap nets	179.8 (above normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.32 lb	1079
2008-06-02	Standard gill nets	1.7 (below normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.51 lb	10
2008-06-02	Standard trap nets	0.6 (below normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.45 lb	5
1979-08-01	Standard gill nets	32.0 (normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.41 lb	64
1979-08-01	Standard trap nets	14.3 (normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.14 lb	43
2024-06-03	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	1.5 – 58.0	1.47 lb	2
1995-07-25	Standard gill nets	31.8 (normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.82 lb	191
1995-07-25	Standard trap nets	57.3 (normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.26 lb	516
1995-07-25	Survey seining	101.3	—	—	405
2018-06-04	Standard gill nets	0.8 (below normal)	7.7 – 104.7	1.44 lb	5
2018-06-04	Standard trap nets	5.0 (normal)	1.5 – 58.0	1.51 lb	45

Walleye

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1984-08-06	Standard gill nets	3.0 (normal)	0.8 – 3.8	2.22 lb	6
1993-07-27	Standard gill nets	1.7 (normal)	0.8 – 3.8	3.71 lb	5
1992-06-17	Standard gill nets	2.0 (normal)	0.8 – 3.8	1.95 lb	2
1998-06-08	Standard trap nets	1.2 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.8	0.30 lb	6
1998-06-08	3/8-in trap nets	1.3	—	0.27 lb	5
1998-06-08	Standard gill nets	2.3 (normal)	0.8 – 3.8	0.31 lb	7
2008-06-02	Standard gill nets	13.0 (above normal)	0.8 – 3.8	2.07 lb	78
2008-06-02	Standard trap nets	3.2 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.8	1.73 lb	29
2001-06-05	Standard gill nets	4.5 (above normal)	0.8 – 3.8	0.58 lb	18
2001-06-05	Standard trap nets	0.6 (normal)	0.3 – 0.8	1.33 lb	6
1979-08-01	Standard trap nets	0.3 (normal)	0.3 – 0.8	1.60 lb	1
2024-06-03	Standard gill nets	10.0 (above normal)	0.8 – 3.8	1.40 lb	60
2024-06-03	Standard trap nets	9.2 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.8	4.69 lb	83
1995-07-25	Standard gill nets	19.7 (above normal)	0.8 – 3.8	2.08 lb	118
1995-07-25	Standard trap nets	0.4 (normal)	0.3 – 0.8	4.75 lb	4
2018-06-04	Standard electrofishing	4.4	—	1.17 lb	4
2018-06-04	Standard gill nets	7.8 (above normal)	0.8 – 3.8	1.56 lb	47
2018-06-04	Standard trap nets	5.6 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.8	2.91 lb	50

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1984-08-06	Standard gill nets	593.5 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.17 lb	1187
1993-07-27	Standard gill nets	0.7 (below normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.63 lb	2
1992-06-17	Standard gill nets	7.0 (normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.60 lb	7
1995-07-25	Standard trap nets	3.6 (above normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.37 lb	32
1995-07-25	Survey seining	0.3	—	—	1
1995-07-25	Standard gill nets	61.0 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.26 lb	366

Common Carp

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1984-08-06	Standard gill nets	7.0 (above normal)	0.8 – 4.3	1.96 lb	14
1979-08-01	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	0.8 – 4.3	4.50 lb	1
1979-08-01	Standard trap nets	8.7 (above normal)	0.4 – 2.4	1.95 lb	26
1995-07-25	Survey seining	23.8	—	—	95
1995-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.7 (below normal)	0.8 – 4.3	1.02 lb	4
1995-07-25	Standard trap nets	1.9 (normal)	0.4 – 2.4	1.47 lb	17

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2008-06-02	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.2 – 0.8	0.11 lb	1
2008-06-02	Standard electrofishing	34.4	—	2.56 lb	16
2008-06-02	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.6	1.60 lb	1
2001-06-05	1/4-in trap nets	0.2	—	—	1
2001-06-05	Standard electrofishing	4.0	—	3.02 lb	4
2024-06-03	Standard trap nets	1.2 (above normal)	0.2 – 0.8	1.67 lb	11
2024-06-03	Standard electrofishing	13.6	—	2.76 lb	15
2018-06-04	Standard trap nets	0.7 (normal)	0.2 – 0.8	1.10 lb	6

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2001-06-05	1/4-in trap nets	1282.6	—	—	6413
2001-06-05	Standard trap nets	2.1 (below normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.44 lb	21
2001-06-05	Standard gill nets	0.5	—	0.52 lb	2
2024-06-03	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.97 lb	3
2024-06-03	Standard gill nets	0.2	—	1.92 lb	1
2018-06-04	Standard trap nets	9.1 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.22 lb	82
2018-06-04	Standard gill nets	3.0	—	0.26 lb	18

White Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-01	Standard gill nets	2.0 (normal)	0.5 – 13.0	0.60 lb	4
1979-08-01	Standard trap nets	8.7 (normal)	0.4 – 14.4	0.47 lb	26

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-01	Standard trap nets	0.7 (normal)	0.2 – 1.2	2.75 lb	2

BIB

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
1995-07-25	Survey seining	0.5	—	2

Fathead Minnow

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
1995-07-25	Survey seining	81.8	—	327

Johnny Darter

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
1995-07-25	Survey seining	21.3	—	85

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 10 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Marinas

Garfield Marine & Storage

Garfield, MN

(320) 834-3939

★ 4.3

Minnewaska Marine

Starbuck, MN

(320) 239-2293

★ 4.7

Resorts & Lodges Near Cottonwood

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Cottonwood.

Barrett Lake Resort-Campground

Fishing Resort Barrett

(320) 528-2598

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

Species known to inhabit Cottonwood. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

Black Bullhead Black Crappie Bluegill Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Sunfish Walleye

Other Lakes in Grant County

Nelson

Plan Your Trip to Cottonwood

Weather forecast for Cottonwood — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 45.7611°N, 96.0199°W — Get Directions
View on MN DNR LakeFinder for the latest survey data and lake info
Review Minnesota fishing regulations for season dates and limits
A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+ — buy online at dnr.state.mn.us

Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.

Cottonwood

DNR Fish Surveys

Hybrid Sunfish

Northern Pike

Black Crappie

Black Bullhead

Walleye

Yellow Perch

Common Carp

Largemouth Bass

Bluegill

White Crappie

White Sucker

BIB

Fathead Minnow

Johnny Darter

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Chumpy's Bait Shop

Bosek Fisheries and Wholesale Live Bait

Fischer's Outback

Joe’s Bait & Bullets

Lake's Area Bait Co

Last Cast Bait & Tackle

Urbank Live Bait Inc

Whipps Bait

Nearby Marinas

Garfield Marine & Storage

Minnewaska Marine

Resorts & Lodges Near Cottonwood

Fish Species

Other Lakes in Grant County

Barrett

Elk

Graham

Lightning

Lower Elk

Nelson

Plan Your Trip to Cottonwood