Cokato

The Walleye population in Cokato Lake was managed through fingerling stocking until 2006. Since then the management strategy has shifted to fry stocking at a rate of 1,000 per littoral acre (184,000 total) with fingerlings being stocked on a contingency basis. Seven out of nine fry stockings have met or exceeded the fall electrofishing goal of 25 young-of-year (YOY) per hour, ranging from zero to 233 per hour with an average of 85 per hour. There has been no observed relationship between fry stocking rate and fall YOY catch rate as the highest YOY catches have been from years with the base stocking rate. Night Electrofishing was conducted on October 6, 2025, and yielded a YOY catch of 173/hr (on time), which was the highest catch rate since 2008 and the second highest on record. This is well above the long-term average of the lake (85/hr). YOY lengths ranged from 5 to 11 inches with an average length of 8 inches. Larger Walleye were captured at a rate of 3/hr and ranged in length from 17 to 20 inches. A standard survey was conducted in August 2024 and the Walleye gill net catch (8/gill net) was over double the long-term average for the lake (4/gill net). Most Walleye were from the 2021 and 2023 year classes. Fry stocking has been successful and will continue with fingerling stocking taking place on a contingency basis following unsuccessful fry stockings.

Cokato Lake is a 545-acre lake located in Wright County three miles north of the City of Cokato. Sucker Creek runs through the lake and joins the North Fork of the Crow River. The watershed is large, and land use is primarily agriculture. Maximum depth is 52 feet and there is a public access on the northeast side of the lake. Water clarity was poor with a Secchi depth of 2.0 feet in August; however, MPCA data show a ten-year average summer Secchi depth of 6.6 feet. Dissolved oxygen was adequate to support fish to 17 feet, compared to only 10 feet in 2019. Above average precipitation and resultant runoff in 2019 may have negatively impacted water quality. A standard survey was conducted in 2024 to update the last standard survey in 2014. Anglers can expect good fishing for Walleye, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Black Crappie. Fry stocking has been used to sustain the Walleye fishery since 2006. Walleye numbers were higher than both 2019 and the long-term average as well as above the expected range of values for lakes similar to Cokato. Walleye lengths ranged from 11 to 28 inches with an average length and weight of 17 inches and 2 pounds. Fifty-one percent of Walleye sampled were 15 inches or longer with 25% being 20 inches or longer. Ages ranged from one to 11 years and the catch was dominated by age 1 and age 3 Walleye from the 2023 and 2021 year classes. Walleye growth in Cokato Lake was higher than both the statewide average and the Sauk Rapids Area average, reaching 14 inches at age one. Northern Pike numbers were higher than 2019 but still within the expected range of values for similar lakes. Pike lengths ranged from 9 to 35 inches with an average length and weight of 22 inches and 3 pounds Ninety-four percent of Pike were 14 inches or longer, with 10% measuring 26 inches or longer and 8% measuring 30 inches or longer. The Black Crappie catch was above the expected range of values and much higher than 2019. Lengths ranged from 4 to 12 inches with an average length of 6 inches. Ninety-eight percent of Crappie were 5 inches or longer, with 8% measuring 8 inches or longer and 4% measuring 10 inches or longer. Bluegill abundance has been historically low. Bluegill catch in 2024 was higher than the last standard survey in 2014, but still below the expected values for lakes like Cokato. Vegetation is rare in Cokato Lake and this likely limits sunfish survival and reproduction. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass were sampled via daytime electrofishing on May 22, 2024. Historically catch rates have been low likely due to the abundance of shallow shoals and lack of aquatic vegetation, making boat electrofishing challenging, but the catches in 2024 were higher than the last survey in 2014. Smallmouth Bass ranged in length from 11 to 21 inches with an average length of 17 inches. Channel Catfish have been found in Cokato Lake since 1986 due to the connection to the Crow River. Catfish lengths ranged from 14 to 30 inches with an average length and weight of 19 inches and 3 pounds. Yellow Perch numbers have been historically low, but catch was much higher this survey compared to 2019 and 2014. The catch was within the expected range for lakes like Cokato Lake for the first time since 2007. Other species sampled in low numbers included: Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Green and Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Shorthead and Silver Redhorse, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Cokato Lake is a 545-acre lake located in Wright County three miles north of the City of Cokato. Sucker Creek runs through the lake and joins the North Fork of the Crow River. The watershed is large, and land use is primarily agriculture. Maximum depth is 52 feet and there is a public access on the northeast side of the lake. Water clarity was poor with a Secchi depth of 2.0 feet in August; however, MPCA data show a ten-year average summer Secchi depth of 6.6 feet. Dissolved oxygen was adequate to support fish to 17 feet, compared to only 10 feet in 2019. Above average precipitation and resultant runoff in 2019 may have negatively impacted water quality. A standard survey was conducted in 2024 to update the last standard survey in 2014. Anglers can expect good fishing for Walleye, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Black Crappie. Fry stocking has been used to sustain the Walleye fishery since 2006. Walleye numbers were higher than both 2019 and the long-term average as well as above the expected range of values for lakes similar to Cokato. Walleye lengths ranged from 11 to 28 inches with an average length and weight of 17 inches and 2 pounds. Fifty-one percent of Walleye sampled were 15 inches or longer with 25% being 20 inches or longer. Ages ranged from one to 11 years and the catch was dominated by age 1 and age 3 Walleye from the 2023 and 2021 year classes. Walleye growth in Cokato Lake was higher than both the statewide average and the Sauk Rapids Area average, reaching 14 inches at age one. Northern Pike numbers were higher than 2019 but still within the expected range of values for similar lakes. Pike lengths ranged from 9 to 35 inches with an average length and weight of 22 inches and 3 pounds Ninety-four percent of Pike were 14 inches or longer, with 10% measuring 26 inches or longer and 8% measuring 30 inches or longer. The Black Crappie catch was above the expected range of values and much higher than 2019. Lengths ranged from 4 to 12 inches with an average length of 6 inches. Ninety-eight percent of Crappie were 5 inches or longer, with 8% measuring 8 inches or longer and 4% measuring 10 inches or longer. Bluegill abundance has been historically low. Bluegill catch in 2024 was higher than the last standard survey in 2014, but still below the expected values for lakes like Cokato. Vegetation is rare in Cokato Lake and this likely limits sunfish survival and reproduction. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass were sampled via daytime electrofishing on May 22, 2024. Historically catch rates have been low likely due to the abundance of shallow shoals and lack of aquatic vegetation, making boat electrofishing challenging, but the catches in 2024 were higher than the last survey in 2014. Smallmouth Bass ranged in length from 11 to 21 inches with an average length of 17 inches. Channel Catfish have been found in Cokato Lake since 1986 due to the connection to the Crow River. Catfish lengths ranged from 14 to 30 inches with an average length and weight of 19 inches and 3 pounds. Yellow Perch numbers have been historically low, but catch was much higher this survey compared to 2019 and 2014. The catch was within the expected range for lakes like Cokato Lake for the first time since 2007. Other species sampled in low numbers included: Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Green and Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Shorthead and Silver Redhorse, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike in Cokato. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Cokato has a maximum depth of 52 feet and a mean depth of 21.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Cokato is from 2024.

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