Cottonwood

Itasca County, Minnesota — DOW #31059400

66 Surveys

132.67

Acres

42 ft

Max 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.

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1977-06-27	Standard gill nets	12.0 (above normal)	2.8 – 8.7	2.07 lb	36
1977-06-27	Standard trap nets	0.5	—	3.15 lb	2
1983-06-27	Standard gill nets	16.8 (above normal)	2.8 – 8.7	1.66 lb	67
1983-06-27	Standard trap nets	1.3	—	0.52 lb	5
2013-06-10	Standard gill nets	9.5 (above normal)	2.8 – 8.7	2.56 lb	38

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1977-06-27	Standard gill nets	3.7 (above normal)	0.5 – 2.9	0.37 lb	11
1977-06-27	Standard trap nets	1.8 (normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.21 lb	7
1983-06-27	Standard gill nets	1.0 (normal)	0.5 – 2.9	0.93 lb	4
1983-06-27	Standard trap nets	2.8 (normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.22 lb	11
2013-06-10	Standard gill nets	15.3 (above normal)	0.5 – 2.9	0.14 lb	61
2013-06-10	Standard trap nets	7.3 (above normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.17 lb	44

Bowfin

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1977-06-27	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.4 – 1.3	3.00 lb	2
1983-06-27	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.4 – 1.3	4.73 lb	3
1983-06-27	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.5	1.80 lb	1
2013-06-10	Standard trap nets	1.3 (above normal)	0.4 – 1.3	4.26 lb	8
2013-06-10	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.5	3.44 lb	1

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1977-06-27	Standard trap nets	7.0 (normal)	5.7 – 40.5	0.23 lb	28
1983-06-27	Standard trap nets	5.8 (normal)	5.7 – 40.5	0.15 lb	23
1983-06-27	Standard gill nets	0.5	—	0.35 lb	2
2013-06-11	Backpack electrofishing	50.4	—	—	51
2013-06-10	Standard trap nets	29.8 (normal)	5.7 – 40.5	0.17 lb	179
2013-06-10	Standard gill nets	0.3	—	0.05 lb	1

Rock Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1977-06-27	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.5 – 2.8	0.25 lb	2
1977-06-27	Standard gill nets	2.0 (normal)	0.5 – 2.0	0.22 lb	6
1983-06-27	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 2.8	0.10 lb	1
1983-06-27	Standard gill nets	2.0 (normal)	0.5 – 2.0	0.14 lb	8
2013-06-11	Backpack electrofishing	1.0	—	—	1
2013-06-11	15-ft beach seine	1.0	—	—	2
2013-06-10	Standard trap nets	1.7 (normal)	0.5 – 2.8	0.32 lb	10

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1977-06-27	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.3 – 1.6	2.20 lb	2
2013-06-11	Backpack electrofishing	5.9	—	—	6
2013-06-11	15-ft beach seine	4.0	—	—	8
2013-06-10	Standard electrofishing	25.5	—	0.99 lb	41

Pumpkinseed

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1977-06-27	Standard gill nets	1.0	—	0.17 lb	3
1977-06-27	Standard trap nets	0.8 (below normal)	1.3 – 6.3	0.17 lb	3
1983-06-27	Standard trap nets	2.8 (normal)	1.3 – 6.3	0.13 lb	11
2013-06-11	Backpack electrofishing	4.0	—	—	4
2013-06-11	15-ft beach seine	1.5	—	—	3
2013-06-10	Standard trap nets	5.7 (normal)	1.3 – 6.3	0.15 lb	34

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1977-06-27	Standard gill nets	5.7 (normal)	1.5 – 23.0	0.12 lb	17
1983-06-27	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 3.8	0.30 lb	1
1983-06-27	Standard gill nets	4.3 (normal)	1.5 – 23.0	0.16 lb	17
2013-06-11	Backpack electrofishing	4.0	—	—	4
2013-06-11	15-ft beach seine	1.0	—	—	2
2013-06-10	Standard trap nets	2.5 (normal)	0.5 – 3.8	0.12 lb	15
2013-06-10	Standard gill nets	18.0 (normal)	1.5 – 23.0	0.09 lb	72

Brown Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1983-06-27	Standard gill nets	0.5 (normal)	0.5 – 2.2	0.35 lb	2
1983-06-27	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.5 – 2.2	0.50 lb	3
2013-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.5 – 2.2	0.94 lb	3

Yellow Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1983-06-27	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 11.0	0.70 lb	1
1983-06-27	Standard trap nets	1.5 (normal)	1.0 – 8.4	0.58 lb	6
2013-06-10	Standard trap nets	0.8 (below normal)	1.0 – 8.4	0.49 lb	5

CNM

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2013-06-11	Backpack electrofishing	5.9	—	6

LES

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2013-06-11	15-ft beach seine	2.0	—	4
2013-06-11	Backpack electrofishing	5.0	—	5

Iowa Darter

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2013-06-11	15-ft beach seine	0.5	—	1

Johnny Darter

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2013-06-11	15-ft beach seine	0.5	—	1

LED

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2013-06-11	15-ft beach seine	1.5	—	3

BCS

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2013-06-11	Backpack electrofishing	8.9	—	9
2013-06-11	15-ft beach seine	4.0	—	8

BKF

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2013-06-11	Backpack electrofishing	3.0	—	3
2013-06-11	15-ft beach seine	1.0	—	2

Hybrid Sunfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2013-06-11	Backpack electrofishing	29.7	—	—	30
2013-06-10	Standard gill nets	0.3	—	0.37 lb	1

Golden Shiner

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2013-06-10	Standard gill nets	0.5 (normal)	0.2 – 0.8	0.12 lb	2
2013-06-10	Standard trap nets	1.3 (normal)	0.2 – 1.5	0.07 lb	8

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Marinas

Bass Lake public Water Access - Whispering Pines

Grand Rapids, MN

★ 3

Grand Rapids Marine

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 326-0351

★ 4.3

Grand Rapids Marine

Grand Rapids, MN

Marine Clinic

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 244-4281

★ 4.9

Mishawaka Outdoors LLC

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 812-8888

NorthStar Barge

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 269-0566

★ 5

Resorts & Lodges Near Cottonwood

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Cottonwood.

Anchor Inn Resort

Fishing Resort Spring Lake

(218) 659-2718

Birch Haven Resort Closed

Fishing Resort Bovey

(218) 910-9707

Bowen Lodge

Fishing Resort Deer River

(218) 246-8707

Loon Point Resort

Fishing Resort Bigfork

(218) 245-1470

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

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

Bluegill Hybrid Sunfish Largemouth Bass Northern Sunfish Pumpkinseed Rock Bass Yellow Perch

Fishing Guides Near Cottonwood

Bro's Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 340-6051

Early Bird Fishing Guide Jeff Sundin

Fishing Guide

(218) 245-9858

Grand Rapids Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 259-7140

Minnesota Fishing Connections

Fishing Guide

(218) 259-2628

MN Fishing Pros

Fishing Guide

(218) 244-2517

Moo Moo's Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 398-7593

View all 9 guides →

Other Lakes in Itasca County

Plan Your Trip to Cottonwood

Weather forecast for Cottonwood — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 47.4307°N, 93.6976°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

Northern Pike

Black Crappie

Bowfin

Bluegill

Rock Bass

Largemouth Bass

Pumpkinseed

Yellow Perch

Brown Bullhead

Yellow Bullhead

CNM

LES

Iowa Darter

Johnny Darter

LED

BCS

BKF

Hybrid Sunfish

Golden Shiner

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Best Bet Waxworm Wholesale Bait & Breeder Kits

Bite Me Waxworms Wholesale Bait Shop

Diamond Custom Rods

Fred's Live Bait & Tackle

Frontier Sports

Glen's Army & Navy Store

God's Country Outfitters

Hollywood Bait

Nearby Marinas

Bass Lake public Water Access - Whispering Pines

Grand Rapids Marine

Grand Rapids Marine

Marine Clinic

Mishawaka Outdoors LLC

NorthStar Barge

Resorts & Lodges Near Cottonwood

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near Cottonwood

Other Lakes in Itasca County

Alice

Allen

Amen

Anderson

Ann

Antler

Plan Your Trip to Cottonwood