Brooks

Brooks Lake is a 96-acre lake located in southwestern Wright County near the City of Cokato. The lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet with a summer water clarity of over five feet. There is a city administered public boat access as well as a fishing pier located within Veterans Memorial Park on the east side of the lake. The Brooks Lake watershed is only 216 acres with land use consisting of 45% open water, 24% residential, 18% cultivated crops, 8% hay/pasture, 3% forest, and 2% wetlands. Emergent vegetation covers 28% of the total shoreline but is confined to the west side of the lake. Brooks Lake has a history of winterkill, with the most recent event occurring in 1992. A standard survey was completed in 2021 to update fisheries data last collected in 2005. The survey included spring Largemouth Bass electrofishing and summer gill netting and trap netting for all species. Northern Pike abundance has historically been low in Brooks Lake. The catch rate in 2021 increased significantly from the previous survey and was two times higher than the expected range for similar lakes. Pike sampled ranged in length from 15 to 31 inches with an average length and weight of 23 inches and three pounds. Anglers should have plenty of opportunity to catch many small (< 26 inches) pike as only 15% of Northern Pike caught were longer than 26 inches and only 2% were longer than 30 inches. The catch rate of Largemouth Bass was more than twice the average for the Sauk Rapids Management Area. Anglers should have opportunities to catch quality-sized bass as fish in the survey ranged in length from 5 to 20 inches and averaged 14 inches. Forty percent of the bass sampled were longer than 15 inches. Black Crappie catches have been highly variable in Brooks Lake. The catch in 2021 was higher than in 2005 and near the long-term average for the lake. Most of the Black Crappies were small and ranged in length from 5 to 9 inches with an average length of 6 inches. The Bluegill catch rate was higher than 2005 and above the range of expected values for lakes similar to Brooks Lake. Bluegill ranged in length from 3 to 8 inches with an average length of 6 inches. Anglers can expect plenty of sunfish action on Brooks Lake; however the average size is small. Other species sampled in the survey were a single four pound Walleye (which have not been stocked since 1992) and Golden Shiner. Land and lakeshore owners within the watershed can help improve water quality by using best management practices to reduce run-off and nutrient input to the lake.

Brooks Lake is a small (98 acres), shallow lake located within the City limits of Cokato. It has a history of winterkill, the last one recorded in the winter of 1991-92. This was the first lake survey since 1983, although a population assessment was conducted in 1989. Test netting and electrofishing revealed that principal species are northern pike, largemouth bass, and bluegill. Northern PikeThe 2005 northern pike catch rate (4.8/gill net) is very near what we would expect for lakes similar to Brooks. The average weight of northern pike caught in gill nets was 4.0 pounds. Northern pike ranged in length from 18.7 to 31.5 inches with a mean length of 25.7 inches. In recent years Brooks Lake has gained a reputation for a small lake that produces above average size northern pike.BluegillThe catch rate of bluegill (22.8/trap net) was less than the previous test netting in 1989 (70.2/trap net) but was near the average for lakes like Brooks. Growth rates were slower than statewide averages with a seven inch fish being seven years old. Most bluegill ranged in size from 4.5 to 7.0 inches; the largest was 7.8 inches. Anglers can expect good fishing for smaller bluegill.Black CrappieNo black crappie were sampled in trap nets in 2005. However, crappies were noted in the creel during the winter of 2004-2005 and a few were observed while electrofishing for largemouth bass.Largemouth BassLargemouth bass were sampled by evening electrofishing at a rate similar to most lakes in the Montrose management area. Of the catchable size bass (greater than 8 inches), 63 percent were greater than 12 inches. The average size of bass was 12.3 inches, while the largest bass sampled was 18.3 inches and 8 years old. Anglers report good success fishing for largemouth bass on Brooks Lake.

Northern Pike, Bluegill, Black Crappie and Black Bullhead were the only species caught in the gill nets. Northern Pike were caught at a rate of 8.5/lift which was at the local third quartile. This was a significant increase over the 1983 catch. Fish ranged in length from 15-33 inches with a median length of 21 inches. Growth was good for both sexes. Species caught in the trap nets included Bluegill, Black Crappie and Black Bullhead. Bluegill were abundant and caught at a rate of 70.2/lift. Fish ranged from 4.4-7.7 inches with a modal length of 6.5-6.9 inches. Black crappie were caught at a rate of 1.2/lift which was a significant decrease from 1983. Black Bullhead were abundant and the catch was 1519.7/ lift. This was a significant increase over 1983. Bullheads ranged in length from 4.0-9.9 inches with a modal length of 4.5-4.9 inches.

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

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Brooks. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Brooks has a maximum depth of 21 feet and a mean depth of 11.4 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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