Minnesota · Wright County
Cokato Lake Fishing guide
Cokato Lake sits in Wright County, Minnesota, and covers 553 acres, reaching 52 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 3.2 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 16 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers8.1per gill net14"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 76 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 178 fish
2025Lengths measured · 76 fish
2024Lengths measured · 68 fish
2023Lengths measured · 34 fish
2019Largemouth bassJust a few14.8per hr (electrofishing)15"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 15 fish
2024Lengths measured · 1 fish
2019Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
2014Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 8 fish
2007Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Smallmouth bassFair numbers14.5per hr (electrofishing)15"Typical21"Biggest
Lengths measured · 39 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 39 fish
2024Lengths measured · 22 fish
2019Lengths measured · 34 fish
2014Lengths measured · 39 fish
2007Northern pikeJust a few5.6per gill net20"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 55 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 55 fish
2024Lengths measured · 23 fish
2019Lengths measured · 67 fish
2014Lengths measured · 7 fish
2007Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillLast stocked 2025Just a few6.2per trap net4"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 58 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 58 fish
2024Lengths measured · 4 fish
2014Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 111 fish
2007Lengths measured · 73 fish
1998CrappieLast stocked 2025Just a few2.2per trap net5"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 210 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 210 fish
2024Lengths measured · 39 fish
2019Lengths measured · 47 fish
2014Lengths measured · 485 fish
2007Yellow perchLast stocked 2022Good numbers9.2per gill net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 87 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 87 fish
2024Lengths measured · 1 fish
2019Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2014Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 211 fish
2007Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Cokato Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 3.2 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 52 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. In 3.2 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. On a lake that drops to 52 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Smallmouth bass | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20" | — | — |
| 2024 | 28" | 21" | 18" |
| 2023 | 20" | — | — |
| 2019 | 28" | 18" | 13" |
| 2017 | 21" | — | — |
| 2015 | 15" | — | — |
| 2014 | 25" | 19" | 15" |
| 2012 | 18" | — | — |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Black Crappie | 250 adults |
| 2025 | Bluegill Sunfish | 1,000 adults |
| 2025 | Walleye | 180,679 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 92,000 fry · 3,987 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Bluegill Sunfish | 15,000 yearlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 50,000 fry |
| 2022 | Yellow Perch | 500 yearlings |
| 2021 | Black Crappie | 2,000 yearlings |
| 2021 | Bluegill Sunfish | 900 adults |
| 2021 | Walleye | 234,000 fry |
| 2020 | Black Crappie | 500 yearlings |
| 2020 | Bluegill Sunfish | 1,500 yearlings |
Stocking records before 2020 omitted.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
The Walleye population in Cokato Lake was managed through fingerling stocking until 2006. Since then the management strategy has shifted to fry stocking at a rate of 1,000 per littoral acre (184,000 total) with fingerlings being stocked on a contingency basis. Seven out of nine fry stockings have met or exceeded the fall electrofishing goal of 25 young-of-year (YOY) per hour, ranging from zero to 233 per hour with an average of 85 per hour. There has been no observed relationship between fry stocking rate and fall YOY catch rate as the highest YOY catches have been from years with the base stocking rate.
Night Electrofishing was conducted on October 6, 2025, and yielded a YOY catch of 173/hr (on time), which was the highest catch rate since 2008 and the second highest on record. This is well above the long-term average of the lake (85/hr). YOY lengths ranged from 5 to 11 inches with an average length of 8 inches. Larger Walleye were captured at a rate of 3/hr and ranged in length from 17 to 20 inches.
Read the full DNR narrative
A standard survey was conducted in August 2024 and the Walleye gill net catch (8/gill net) was over double the long-term average for the lake (4/gill net). Most Walleye were from the 2021 and 2023 year classes. Fry stocking has been successful and will continue with fingerling stocking taking place on a contingency basis following unsuccessful fry stockings.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Cokato Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Cokato Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Cokato Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Cokato Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Brooks Lake · 100 ac · 2.4 mi
- Mud Lake · 57 ac · 3 mi
- Camp Lake · 123 ac · 5.1 mi
- Howard Lake · 745 ac · 5.4 mi
- Granite Lake · 362 ac · 5.7 mi
- Big Swan Lake · 684 ac · 5.9 mi
- Collinwood Lake · 639 ac · 6 mi
- Little Swan Lake · 52 ac · 6.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Cokato Lake?
Cokato Lake reaches 52 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 21.5 ft; about 33% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Cokato Lake?
Cokato Lake covers 553 acres with about 4.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Cokato Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Cokato Lake average 3.2 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Cokato Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Cokato Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked black crappie, bluegill sunfish and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2020.
Does Cokato Lake have a public access?
Yes. Cokato Lake has one public access site: Cokato Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Cokato Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2012.
When was Cokato Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Cokato Lake in 2025, the most recent of 16 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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