Cottonwood Lake is a productive walleye and pike lake in the prairie pothole country of McHenry County, north-central North Dakota. A roughly 225-acre lake managed for walleye and stocked regularly, it’s a reliable, easy-to-reach fishery in the Souris River basin, popular with anglers from the Minot and Velva areas. This guide is part of our growing North Dakota Lakes Database.
Cottonwood Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~225 acres, with about 3 miles of shoreline
- Depth: average ~10 ft, maximum ~13 ft
- Elevation: ~1,540 ft, in the Souris River basin of north-central North Dakota
- Location: McHenry County (north-central North Dakota)
- Top fish: walleye, yellow perch, northern pike
How deep is Cottonwood Lake?
Cottonwood Lake (McHenry County) is a shallow, fertile prairie lake of about 225 acres, averaging roughly 10 feet deep and reaching about 13 feet at its deepest. Note that North Dakota has more than one Cottonwood Lake – this guide covers the McHenry County lake managed for walleye. The shallow, productive water grows fish quickly.
Fishing Cottonwood Lake
Cottonwood Lake is managed primarily for walleye, with fingerlings stocked on a regular (biennial) schedule, and it also holds yellow perch and northern pike. A North Dakota fishing license is required. It’s a dependable walleye-and-pike lake, fishing well from boats and the bank, with good winter ice fishing for walleye and perch.
Boating, access and recreation
A public boat ramp provides access to the lake, set in the rolling pothole prairie of the Souris basin – prime waterfowl country popular with hunters and birders as well as anglers. There’s no developed swimming beach; Cottonwood is a fishing-and-boating lake.
Water level
As a shallow prairie lake, Cottonwood’s level and water quality fluctuate with the region’s wet and dry cycles. Check current conditions before launching, especially in dry years when shallow lakes can drop.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Cottonwood Lake is in McHenry County, north-central North Dakota, within reach of Velva, Towner and Minot. The Souris River valley and the J. Clark Salyer and Upper Souris national wildlife refuges are in the broader region.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a North Dakota license is required.
- Which Cottonwood? North Dakota has several – this is the McHenry County walleye lake.
- Best seasons: spring through fall for walleye and pike; winter for ice fishing.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Cottonwood Lake?
Walleye (the managed species), yellow perch and northern pike.
How deep is Cottonwood Lake?
The McHenry County lake averages about 10 feet and reaches roughly 13 feet at its deepest, across about 225 acres.
Where is Cottonwood Lake?
In McHenry County, north-central North Dakota, within reach of Velva and Minot.
Related: explore the small lakes of North Dakota, or head back to the North Dakota Lakes Database.