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Cottonwood County fishing lakes
Cottonwood County has 12 surveyed fishing lakes. Talcot Lake grades A− for walleye, the county's best fishery, and at 873 acres it is also the largest. Bingham Lake grades A− for yellow perch. The DNR stocks 9 lakes here.
A Guide lake has a full page with a depth map, DNR survey data, top spots and stocking history. A Survey lake has the survey data and stocking history but no depth map, because the DNR has not published one. The rest open in the live map.
Recent fishing reports in Cottonwood County →
Best by species: Walleye · Crappie · Yellow perch

| Lake | Fish | Acres | Max depth | Last survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talcot Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Catfish | 873 | 6 ft | 2025 |
| String Lake Guide | Walleye, Pike, Crappie, Perch, Catfish | 336 | 3.8 ft | 2023 |
| Bingham Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Catfish | 270 | 10 ft | 2022 |
| Double Lake Survey | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Catfish | 240 | 9 ft | 2023 |
| Mountain Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Catfish | 230 | 8 ft | 2025 |
| Bean Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 164 | 12 ft | 2020 |
| Cottonwood Lake Guide | Walleye, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Catfish | 155 | 10 ft | 2024 |
| Eagle Lake Survey | Walleye, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 105 | 8 ft | 2018 |
| Summit Lake map only | Walleye, Largemouth, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 64 | 10 ft | 2000 |
| Wolf Lake map only | Perch | 61 | 1990 | |
| Arnold's Lake map only | Walleye, Pike, Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 48 | 13 ft | 1985 |
| Shoper-Bush Reservoir map only | Bluegill, Crappie, Perch | 14 | 15 ft | 1990 |
Quick answers
Fishing in Cottonwood County
What is the best fishing lake in Cottonwood County?
Talcot Lake grades A− for walleye, the highest grade in Cottonwood County on this site. Grades are based on DNR survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history.
How many fishing lakes are in Cottonwood County?
The DNR has surveyed 12 lakes in Cottonwood County, about 2,559 acres of water in all. 6 of them have a full guide page here.
What fish can you catch in Cottonwood County?
DNR surveys have found walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch and channel catfish in Cottonwood County lakes.
Which lake in Cottonwood County is deepest?
Shoper-Bush Reservoir, at 15 feet. The largest is Talcot Lake at 873 acres.
Are lakes in Cottonwood County stocked?
Yes. The DNR has stocking records for 9 of the county's 12 surveyed lakes. If a lake has a page here, it lists what the DNR stocked and when.
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
Featured spots are bought one lake at a time. Sponsor a lake in this county and your listing runs here too, shared evenly with any other sponsor in the county. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
Survey years in grey are more than 20 years old. Surveys that old do not count toward grades.