Cotton

Cotton Lake is a 1,763-acre lake located in Becker county 12 miles east of the city of Detroit Lakes. The lake possesses a heavily developed shoreline and receives high recreational use and fishing pressure from the surrounding area, particularly during the open water season. The Shelly Island Wildlife Management Area and the Cotton Lake Aquatic Management Area collectively protect 111 acres of land within and adjacent to Cotton Lake. The lake is moderately productive and maintains a robust fishery, providing angling opportunities for Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Black Crappie. A standard lake survey was completed on Cotton Lake in July 2021. Catch rates of Walleye in Cotton Lake have varied over time, ranging from four to 13 Walleye per gill net. The average catch rate of Walleye in 2021 was about five fish per gill net. Walleye sampled ranged in length from 8.4 to 22.6 inches, averaging 15.9 inches long. Walleye in Cotton Lake typically reach 15 inches in length by age four, exhibiting growth that is considered average in Minnesota lakes. Northern Pike catches have increased in Cotton Lake over time. During the 2021 survey the average catch rate of Northern Pike was almost 14 pike per gill net, slightly higher than the lake's historical average. Pike sampled in 2021 ranged in length from 10.0 to 28.9 inches, averaging 17.3 inches long. Only 1.2% of sampled Northern Pike were greater than or equal to 24 inches in length, indicative of a population persisting of an over-abundance of small to moderately sized pike. Catch rates of Yellow Perch have remained between about ten and 20 perch pet gill net in the last six surveys. The average catch rate of Yellow Perch in 2021 was about 13 perch per gill net. Sampled perch ranged in length from 5.1 to 12.0 inches, averaging 8.4 inches long. Cotton Lake appears to have the possibility to provide an angling opportunity for Yellow Perch, a unique prospect in the Detroit Lakes Fisheries Management Area. Bluegill catches in Cotton Lake have declined relative to past surveys. Although catch rates are lower, the size structure of Bluegill has improved in the last two surveys. The average catch rate of Bluegill in 2021 was about 12 fish per trap net. Sampled Bluegill ranged in length from 2.8 to 8.9 inches, averaging 6.1 inches long. Approximately 22% of the Bluegill sampled in trap nets were eight inches or longer, a substantial improvement from previous surveys. Bluegill in Cotton Lake exhibit relatively slow growth, requiring six years to reach six inches long. In 2021, a total of ten Black Crappie were sampled ranging in length from 3.7 to 12.2 inches long. A total of 15 Largemouth Bass were caught in trap nets, ranging in length from 5.2 to 19.0 inches in length, averaging 11.8 inches long. Additional species sampled in Cotton Lake in 2021 included Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, hybrid sunfish, Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Cisco, and White Sucker. Anglers can help maintain and improve Cotton Lake's fishery by harvesting small to moderately sized fish and releasing larger fish (specifically Northern Pike and Bluegill), as well as taking precautions to prevent the spread of invasive species. Shoreline owners can help to improve water quality and fish habit in the lake by maintaining shoreline buffer zones and leaving native aquatic vegetation stands intact.

Cotton Lake has a diverse fish community that includes Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Walleye. Cotton Lake also contains Cisco, a coldwater species that requires cool, well oxygenated refuge areas during the heat of summer. Walleye fingerlings are stocked into Cotton Lake every other year and abundant year-classes of Walleye corresponded to years when stocking occurred. At 3.8 fish per net in 2016, gill net catch for Walleye was below average for Cotton Lake but above what is expected for similar lakes. Sampled Walleyes ranged from 9.4 to 24.5 inches with an average length of 15.7 inches. A special regulation for Northern Pike was implemented on Cotton Lake in 2003. The regulation required the release of pike between 24 and 36 inches in length. After eight years the pike population did not show signs of improved size structure so the regulation was discontinued in 2011. Northern Pike gill net catch was 9.8 fish per net in 2016, which is near the historical average for Cotton Lake but above what is expected for similar lakes. Sampled Northern Pike ranged from 9.8 to 23.4 inches with a mean of 15.7 inches. As is the case with some other area lakes, Northern Pike numbers have increased in recent years while size and growth have decreased. Anglers are encouraged to keep smaller Northern Pike and release larger ones to help improve size structure. Bluegill catch has remained well above both the historical average for the lake and what is expected for similar lakes. Bluegill trap net catch was 49.7 fish per net in 2016, and sampled fish ranged from 4.0 to 8.9 inches with a mean of 7.3 inches. On average, it was found that it takes Bluegill nine years to reach 8 inches. Trap net catch rate was 3.7 Black Crappies and 1.3 Largemouth Bass per set, both just above the historical averages for each species. Black Crappies ranged in length from 8.4 to 11.6 inches and averaged 9.6 inches. Black Crappie were found to reach 10 inches in about 6-7 years. Largemouth Bass ranged from 6.8 to 18.3 inches and averaged 14.4 inches. Yellow Perch catch was 13.3 fish per net. This catch is below the historical average of 23.6 fish per net but within what is expected for similar lakes. Mean Yellow Perch length was 8.4 inches, and lengths ranged from 5.2 to 11.1 inches. In 2016, four Cisco were caught in gill nets, and they ranged in size from 16.7 to 18.7 inches.

A survey of near shore fish species was conducted by Detroit Lakes Area Fisheries Staff on Cotton Lake (03028600) on July 6, 2016. Cotton Lake is 1,783 acres, located 10 miles northeast of Detroit Lakes, MN. During this survey, 18 100-foot sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site is sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with either a 50-foot or a 15-foot 1/8th-inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. During this survey, 11 sites were sampled with a 50-foot seine, and four were was sampled with a 15-foot seine. Site conditions prevented the use of seines at three sites. Backpack electrofishing was done at 18 sites. Nearshore sampling captured 19 species of fish including six species intolerant of disturbance and/or poor water quality. Intolerant species sampled were Banded Killifish, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Logperch, Mimic Shiner, and Rock Bass. Other species sampled during the nearshore effort included Black Bullhead, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Fathead Minnow, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Spottail Shiner, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch. The near shore fish survey data is combined with gill net and trap net data from a July, 2016 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score based on expectations for similar lakes. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Cotton Lake is located in the Ottertail River Watershed.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Rock Bass, Walleye, Black Crappie, and Bluegill in Cotton. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Cotton. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Cotton has a maximum depth of 28 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Cotton is from 2021.

No invasive species are on record for Cotton in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.