Cottonwood Lake

How big is Cottonwood Lake?

How deep is Cottonwood Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Cottonwood Lake?

What are the closest cities to Cottonwood Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Cottonwood Lake?

We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of Cottonwood Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Cottonwood Lake

Are there boat launches on Cottonwood Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Cottonwood Lake?

Cottonwood is a small (323 acres), shallow (7 feet maximum), aerated (6 unit helixor system and floating surface type aerators), and productive lake located in Lyon County. A resurvey was conducted during late June and early July of 2012. There are two boat accesses and a park located along the lakeshore. There were 83 homes, 2 recreational vehicles, and 1 former business along the lake shore in addition to a park and nearby golf course. Unfortunately, a significant winterkill (walleye, black crappie, northern pike, etc.) occurred near the aerator site in late-February or early-March of 2013 as reported by a commercial fisherman and the Cottonwood Sportsman's Club. The helixor aeration system was not operated in 2012-13 winter due to equipment problems. A winter storm sunk one of the two surface aerators in February of 2013, but was replaced shortly afterward. The helixor system has struggled to maintain adequate oxygen levels during moderate winters in recent years. A spring ice out netting was conducted in 2013 to determine the extent of the 2013 winterkill. A partial winterkill of gamefish may have also occurred in early February of 2010 due to low dissolved oxygen levels (< 1 ppm), although no significant numbers of dead fish were observed after ice out. Spring trap netting in 2010 did indicate the presence of low numbers of carp, walleye, yellow perch and black crappie, but high numbers of black bullhead.

Fish species numbers and sizes present have significantly changed after 2012 due to the 2013 winterkill. Fish species present included low numbers of northern pike, moderate numbers of yellow perch, abundant numbers of black bullhead, low numbers of carp and no walleye in the 2013 ice out trapnets. Walleye fry stocking is scheduled for 2013 spring. Other fish species (i.e. bluegill, yellow perch, etc.) stockings may also occur in 2013 or 2014.

Water clarity was poor (0.7 feet) on July 11, 2012. Aquatic vegetation is almost nonexistent with the exception of water moss. Other aquatic vegetation species include some cattail species, bulrush, reed canary grass and swamp milkweed located in the northwest corner of the lake. Invasive purple loosestrife was found and removed from a portion of the southeast shore of Cottonwood during the 2012 survey. Intense blue-green algal blooms are common during the summer due to agricultural, residential, municipal and golf course nutrient runoff. Nutrient levels were extremely high (total phosphorus=0.221 ppm, chlorophyll a=237 ppb) in June of 2012. There are approximately 15 drain tile, culvert and storm sewer inlets that enter Cottonwood Lake. The three largest inlets are ditches that enter the southeast (County Ditch#69), north (Judicial Ditch#18) and southwest corners of the lake. An outlet dam is located along the northwest shore. The outlet structure is inadequate at preventing fish movement (i.e. carp, northern pike) into Cottonwood during high water events. The outlet flows into Judicial Ditch#24, which drains into the Yellow Medicine River. Shoalwater substrates include boulder, rubble, gravel, sand, silt and detritus. The shoalwater substrates were covered with water moss and periphyton.

Prior to 1993, angling for game fish species was limited. Angling opportunities have increased dramatically following the reclamation and operation of aeration units in Cottonwood. Submergent vegetation (sago pondweed) increased substantially after the 1993 reclamation, however intense algal blooms continue to occur in Cottonwood. Primary species managed in Cottonwood include walleye and yellow perch. Walleye fry are generally stocked into Cottonwood every other year. If a fry stocking is a failure, then the lake will generally be stocked again with fry the following spring. Walleye fingerling stocking is contingent in Cottonwood after successive fry stocking failures.

The following information presented below is data collected in the 2012 summer prior to the February 2013 winterkill.

Black bullhead numbers in 2012 (60.44 fish/trapnet) were moderately abundant and within the normal ranges of similar lakes and Cottonwood Lake. The black bullhead historical average trapnet catch rate is 85.18 fish/trapnet. The 2012 black bullhead gillnet catch rate (41.00/gillnet) was below the Cottonwood historical average (86.03 fish/gillnet). The 2012 black bullhead average size was moderate from both trapnets (0.35 pounds and 8.40 inches) and gillnets (0.31 pounds and 7.79 inches).

Carp numbers were moderately abundant in 2012 (9.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal ranges of similar lakes and Cottonwood. The carp historical catch rate is 10.11 fish/gillnet. The 2012 carp average weights were small from gillnets (2.40 pounds) and from trapnets (4.63 pounds).

Black crappie numbers were moderate (4.11 fish/trapnet) in 2012 compared to the normal range of similar lakes. The 2012 black crappie average size was large (1.35 pounds and 12.83 inches) from trapnets. The 2012 catch rate of memorable size (12.00 inches) and larger black crappie was high (3.44 fish/trapnet). Black crappie growth rates were above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-8. The 2006 year class accounted for 38% of the 2012 black crappie catch. Black crappie adults were last stocked (632 fish, 158 pounds) into Cottonwood during 2008.

Bluegill numbers were moderately abundant in 2012 (12.00 fish/trapnet) and within the normal range of similar lakes. The bluegill historical catch rate is 2.32 fish/trapnet for Cottonwood. The 2012 bluegill average size was large (0.38 pounds and 7.44 inches) from trapnets. The 2012 catch rate of preferred size (8.00 inches) and larger bluegill was high (4.53 fish/trapnet). Bluegill growth rates were above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-8. The 2008 year class accounted for 46% of the 2012 bluegill catch.

Yellow perch numbers in 2012 (6.00 fish/gillnet) were within the normal range for similar lakes, but below the Cottonwood historical average catch rate (21.97 fish/gillnet). The 2012 yellow perch average length was moderate (7.88 inches) from gillnets. Yellow perch growth rates were within or above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-6. The 2009 year class comprised 86% of the 2012 yellow perch catch.

Northern pike numbers were abundant in 2012 (15.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal range of similar lakes and above the Cottonwood historical average catch rate (4.14 fish/gillnet) . There were also abundant numbers (4.89 fish/trapnet) of northern pike in the 2012 trapnets. The northern pike average size was small to moderate (2.64 pounds and 22.00 inches) from gillnets and trapnets combined. Northern pike average weight was small (2.30 pounds) from gillnets. Northern pike growth rates were within or above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-5. The 2010 year class comprised 83% of the 2012 northern pike catch.

Walleye numbers were abundant in 2012 (94.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal ranges for similar lakes and Cottonwood. It was also the highest recorded walleye catch rate for Cottonwood. The walleye historical average catch rate is 29.81 fish/gillnet for Cottonwood. The 2012 walleye trapnet catch rate was also high (24.56 fish/trapnet) compared to the historical average (6.00 fish/trapnet). The 2012 walleye average size was moderate (1.29 pounds and 13.82 inches) from gillnets. The 2012 walleye average size (1.53 pounds and 15.91 inches) was slightly larger from trapnets. Walleye historical average weights are 1.20 pounds from gillnets and 2.10 pounds from trapnets. The 2012 catch rate of quality size walleye (15.00 inches) and larger was high (41.00 fish/gillnet). The 2012 catch rate of preferred size walleye (20.00 inches) and larger was low (1.00 fish/gillnet). Walleye growth rates were within the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-8. The 2009 (fry and yearling stocked) and 2011 year classes (fry and fingerling stocked) accounted for 47% and 38% respectively of the 2012 walleye catch.

Young of year "YOY" walleye were abundant in the 2011 (311.99/YOY/hour, 6.86 inches average size) and 2006 (288.01 YOY/hour, 6.06 inches average size) fall electrofishing surveys. There were low numbers of YOY walleye in 2008-2010 (< 13 YOY/hour) fall electrofishing surveys. The Cottonwood fall electrofishing historical average catch rate and length are 79.92 YOY/hour and 6.95 inches respectively. Walleye fry (160,000 to 250,000 fish/stocking) have been stocked into Cottonwood during 1994, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003-2006, 2008-2011. The highest Cottonwood fall electrofishing catch rate of YOY walleye occurred in 2011 for a fry stocked year and 1997 for a natural reproduction year (69.00 YOY/hour, 6.36 inches average size). Walleye fingerlings and yearlings were stocked into Cottonwood during late September of 2004 (12,130 fish, 715 pounds), January of 2010 (16,800 fingerlings, 700 pounds-private stocking), spring of 2010 (124 yearlings/adults, 19 pounds) and fall of 2011 (5,152 yearlings, 260 fingerlings and 82 adults; 742 pounds).

No channel catfish were caught in 2012 survey nets. Low numbers were caught in Cottonwood during 1997 and 2007 surveys. Channel catfish fingerlings were first stocked into Cottonwood during 1994 (6,730 fish) and recently in 2008 (3,250 fish).

An Index of Biotic Integrity "IBI" survey was conducted from June 26-28, 2012 on Cottonwood Lake to compare small fish species presence versus lake characteristics (i.e. water quality, size, depth, productivity, etc.). Seine hauls were conducted with a bag seine of 50 foot width and 1/8 inch bar mesh in depths of 3.5 feet or less. Near shore electrofishing was conducted with a back-pack unit in water depths less than 2 feet deep. Both seine hauls and electrofishing runs were conducted along 10 stations that were spaced equally apart around the entire shoreline of the lake in a variety of near shore habitats and each station was approximately 100 feet long. Approximately 9 different fish species (5 species from electrofishing, 9 species from seining) were captured from electrofishing and seining combined. Fish species captured included gamefish (i.e. northern pike and walleye), panfish (bluegill, black crappie, orangespotted sunfish, green sunfish, and hybrid sunfish), large non-gamefish (black bullhead) and small non-gamefish (fathead minnow). The number of species captured in Cottonwood Lake was substantially less than other Spicer Area Lakes, but similar for other nearby shallow aerated lakes.

Current fish management activities on Cottonwood include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, assisting local residents and the sportsman's club with the operation of the aeration system, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel in educating boaters and monitoring access sites for potential invasive species introductions, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Cottonwood fishery will be sampled in the 2013 fall for YOY walleye.

Are there any state parks near Cottonwood Lake?