Minnesota · Cottonwood County
Mountain Lake Fishing guide
Mountain Lake is a 230-acre lake in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, reaching 8 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 3.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025One of the best around14per gill net17"Typical24"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 19 fish
2022Lengths measured · 5 fish
2018Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 26 fish
2014Lengths measured · 3 fish
2010Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassFair numbers20.4per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 82 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 37 fish
2025Lengths measured · 45 fish
2022Lengths measured · 95 fish
2018Lengths measured · 127 fish
2014BluegillGood numbers57.8per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 582 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 582 fish
2022Lengths measured · 214 fish
2018Lengths measured · 106 fish
2014Lengths measured · 294 fish
2010CrappieJust a few6.2per trap net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 79 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 79 fish
2022Lengths measured · 7 fish
2018Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 5 fish
2014Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2010Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchExcellent numbers13per gill net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 14 fish
2022Lengths measured · 13 fish
2018Lengths measured · 59 fish
2014Lengths measured · 75 fish
2010No recent survey rating.
Rates 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 Mountain Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 3.9 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. With 96% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 8-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 3.9 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 96% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. A 8-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | 19" | — |
| 2022 | 24" | 17" | 35" |
| 2018 | 25" | 20" | 35" |
| 2014 | 24" | 21" | 32" |
| 2010 | 24" | 15" | 30" |
| 2004 | 22" | 18" | 32" |
| 2002 | 18" | 17" | 21" |
| 1997 | 21" | 17" | 37" |
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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
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 | Northern Pike | 432 fingerlings |
| 2025 | Walleye | 115,000 fry · 240 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 256 fingerlings · 1,050 yearlings |
| 2022 | Northern Pike | 680 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 312 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 497 adults |
| 2020 | Walleye | 168 yearlings · 358 adults |
| 2017 | Walleye | 104 adults |
| 2016 | Northern Pike | 1,688 fingerlings · 188 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 315 fingerlings · 1,314 yearlings · 200 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Mountain Lake is a 241-acre, class 43 lake, located within the City of Mountain Lake in Cottonwood County. The lake has a maximum depth of 7.0 feet, and has a watershed-to-lake ratio of 22-to-1. In the early 1990's, Mountain Lake had a diverse population of fish. During the winter of 1993-94, the lake suffered a partial winterkill, resulting in an increase in Common Carp and Black Bullhead abundance, which resulted in a decrease in aquatic vegetation. Because of the high abundance of undesirable fish, Mountain Lake Watershed was reclaimed during the fall of 1998, with the goal to restore desirable fish populations, re-establish aquatic vegetation, and improve water quality. Curlyleaf Pondweed is abundant in Mountain Lake, to the extent that a vegetation harvester is operated by the City of Mountain Lake on an annual basis. Mountain Lake is managed primarily for Largemouth Bass and Bluegill, and secondarily for Yellow Perch, Walleye, Northern Pike, and Black Crappie. A daytime electrofishing survey was conducted in the week of May 6, 2025 to monitor the Largemouth Bass population and the newly introduced Yellow Bass population.
Largemouth Bass electrofishing catch rates have been highly variable, ranging from 0.0 per hour in 1994 to 228.0 per hour in 2000, and averaging 73.9 per hour since 1994. In 2025, the Largemouth Bass catch rate was 78.5 per hour. Multiple year classes of Largemouth Bass were present as lengths ranged from 6.2 to 19.2 inches and averaged 15.7 inches. Management goals were met because the catch rate exceeded the goal of 20.0 per hour and size structure indices were within desired ranges. It appears that the Largemouth Bass population in Mountain Lake is a stable, naturally reproducing population with many fish 15 to 20 inches present.
Read the full DNR narrative
Prior to the electrofishing survey, it was reported that Yellow Bass had been caught by anglers at Mountain Lake. During sampling, Yellow Bass were captured at a rate of 29.7 per hour and ranged in length from 8.0 to 11.7 inches and averaged 8.8 inches. Once introduced, Yellow Bass tends to establish and maintain a robust population. Yellow Bass are native to Minnesota but historically had only been documented in the Mississippi River. Windom Area Fisheries first sampled Yellow Bass in Hall Lake in Martin County in 2013, and since have seen rapid expansion of populations to various water bodies in Martin, Cottonwood, Jackson, and Faribault Counties, likely a result of illegal stocking by anglers.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Mountain Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Mountain 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
- Mountain Lake (E) (trailer launch)
- Mountain Lake (W) (trailer launch)
- Mountain Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Mountain Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Eagle Lake · 105 ac · 3.1 mi
- Bingham Lake · 270 ac · 5.4 mi
- Fish Lake · 297 ac · 8.6 mi
- Cottonwood Lake · 155 ac · 8.9 mi
- Kansas Lake · 403 ac · 12.2 mi
- Independence Lake · 99 ac · 13.7 mi
- Wellner-Hageman Reservoir · 75 ac · 14 mi
- String Lake · 336 ac · 14.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Mountain Lake?
Mountain Lake reaches 8 ft at its deepest point; about 96% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Mountain Lake?
Mountain Lake covers 230 acres with about 4.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Mountain Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Mountain Lake average 3.9 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Mountain Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Mountain Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked northern pike and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Mountain Lake have a public access?
Yes. Mountain Lake has 3 public access sites, including Mountain Lake (E) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Mountain Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 24"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Mountain Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Mountain Lake in 2025, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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