Cottonwood Lake

Details

DNR lake ID

42001400

County

Lyon

Surface area

383 acres

Maximum depth

7 feet

Shallow water (littoral) area

379 acres, 99% of the lake

Shoreline

3.8 miles

Average water clarity

2.1 feet (Secchi disk, 5 readings)

Latest DNR fish survey

September 2025, targeted survey

Surveys on record

12, since 1990

Game fish caught in the 2025 survey

walleye 27, yellow perch 17, northern pike 7

Fish species recorded

black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, walleye, yellow perch, and 10 other species

Stocked in 2025

walleye fry (124,769)

Stocked in 2024

walleye fry (101,934)

Stocked in 2023

walleye fry (175,828)

Stocking years on record

9 of the last 10 (2016 to 2025)

Cottowood Lake (E) Public Water Access Site

trailer launch, concrete slab ramp, 2 docks, 10 trailer spaces, run by City of Cottonwood

Fish consumption

Follow the statewide guidelines; fish from this lake have been tested

Size

100 to 499 acres

Deepest point

Under 15 feet

Public access

Yes

Stocked in the last 3 years

Yes

Sources

• Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
  Checked September 24, 2026
• Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites
  Checked September 24, 2026

Survey catches show what DNR nets and electrofishing found on the survey date, not how the fishing is today. Check the current regulations and the Department of Health advice before you keep fish, and confirm access conditions before you tow a boat.