Cottonwood Lake Fishing guide

The 2024 Walleye gill net catch rate of 3.7 per net was within the expected range for similar lakes (2.3 to 18.0 per net) but a decrease from 4.7 per gill net in 2020 and below Cottonwood Lake's long-term average of 5.7 per gill net. Walleye in the gill net sample ranged in length from 12.9 to 22.9 inches and averaged 15.0 inches. Thirty Walleye were captured in the trap net sample and ranged in length from 13.3 to 24.5 inches with an average of 13.3 inches. The trap net catch was the greatest since 2002. Aging otoliths from gill net fish revealed only 2 different year classes of Walleye with nine 2-year-old fish and two 6-year-old fish. Weights relative to a typical population were fair indicating a population of fish that are finding enough prey to maintain a decent but sleek body shape. A recent management change from stocking any size Walleye when available to annual fry stocking has shown some good progress. The 2022 and 2023 year-classes were very well represented in gill nets (2022) and trap nets (2023) and should result in good numbers of harvestable size fish over the next several years. Anglers are starting to report some 14-to-15-inch Walleye becoming more abundant in their catch. Walleye angling could become more consistent in Cottonwood Lake with annual fry stocking and excellent productivity.

BLACK CRAPPIE

Black Crappie relative abundance is up in Cottonwood Lake with 5.7 per gill net and 38.4 per trap net in 2024. Gill net and trap net catch rates increased from 2020 to 2024 and the trap net catch rate is the greatest ever recorded. The expected catch rate range for Black Crappie in similar lakes is 1.2 to 20.5 per trap net with a long-term lake specific average of 18.1 per trap net indicating how unusually high the 2024 catch rate is. Size of Black Crappie in the gill net and trap net samples were also very good with a PSD-Q of 96 and a PSD-P of 1. Black Crappie ranged in length from 8.2 to 10.4 inches with an average of 8.4 inches in gill nets and 8.6 inches in trap nets. Overall, 17% of Black Crappie in the sample were over 9 inches. Typically, growth of Black Crappie is fast in southwest Minnesota, and if the Cottonwood Lake population follows the regional growth trend many 10 inch, or larger, Black Crappie will be present. The health of Black Crappie was excellent, leading to optimism for fast growth. The Black Crappie population will provide an excellent angling opportunity over the next several years and could become the major draw for anglers at Cottonwood Lake.

BLUEGILL

Bluegill relative abundance has fluctuated widely from a low of 1.0 per trap net in 2016 to 26.0 per trap net in 2020 with a long-term catch average of 7.4 per trap net. The 2024 catch rate was 2.3 per trap net which is within the expected catch rate range for similar lakes (1.2 to 20.0 per trap net) but below the long-term average. Lengths of Bluegill ranged from 3.8 to 8.4 inches and averaged 5.8 inches (PSD-Q=38 and PSD-P=19). Health of Bluegill in the sample was excellent. Bluegill continue to be an excellent member of the fish community and an aggressive sunfish for anglers to target.

YELLOW PERCH

Yellow Perch were caught at typical relative abundances for gill nets and trap nets in 2024. The gill net catch rate was 9.7 per net, within the expected catch rate range (2.7 to 25.0 per trap net) but less than the long-term average of 18.9 per trap net. The trap net catch rate was 1.0 per net, also within the expected catch rate range (0.3 to 3.8 per trap net) and less than the long-term average of 1.5 per net. Length of Yellow Perch in the gill nets and trap nets ranged from 5.6 to 10.7 inches with an average length of 8.5 inches in gill nets and trap nets. Health of Yellow Perch in the sample was excellent indicating fish are finding ample prey abundance. Yellow Perch angling could be good over the next several years, and their decent relative abundance will help provide prey for other gamefish.

OTHER SPECIES

One Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass were sampled in 2024. However, Largemouth Bass and now Smallmouth Bass are both residents of Cottonwood Lake. Largemouth Bass have a long history as members of the fish community while Smallmouth Bass are a recent introduction. Smallmouth Bass were not stocked by the Department of Natural Resources, they were most likely illegally introduced by bucket stocking from a nearby lake that does have a population of Smallmouth Bass. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass are large enough to provide an additional angling opportunity (as large as 18 inches in 2020), but their low numbers may make them difficult to catch. However, each species appears to be sustaining itself via natural reproduction.

The Black Bullhead catch rate was 28.33 per gill net, which was the lowest recorded catch rate ever observed, and the first time it has ever been lower than the expected catch rate range for similar lakes (30.3 to 150.6 per gill net). Black bullheads averaged 8.4 inches long in gill nets and 8.9 inches in trap nets indicating a population that is skewed toward larger, older fish. The Channel Catfish Catch rate was 5.7 per gill net, which is the second highest ever recorded. Channel Catfish ranged from 10.9 to 18.5 inches and averaged 16.3 inches in gill nets and 21.9 inches in trap nets.

Other species sampled included Common Carp, Northern Pike, Orangespotted Sunfish, White Sucker, and Pumpkinseed. Of those, Northern Pike were the most notable. Some larger Northern Pike are present with harvest potential above the 24-inch, 2-fish-daily bag limit for southern Minnesota. In 2024, 7 Northern Pike were caught in gill nets and trap nets ranging in length from 14.4 to 31.7 inches. Northern Pike may not be what brings people to fish Cottonwood Lake, but they certainly will provide a great additional angling opportunity. A reminder to anglers that Northern Pike need to be 24 inches to harvest and a bag limit of 2 fish.

We did receive a report from an angler and lakeshore owner that a Yellow Bass was caught by hook and line during 2024. Additionally during August of 2024 while collecting a few fish by way of electrofishing, a staff member thought they observed a Yellow Bass. While effort was made to net the suspected fish it did evade capture. It will be interesting to see if that species shows up on Cottonwood Lake in the future.