McLean County · lake · 88 acres
Cottonwood Lake
Cottonwood Lake is a lake in McLean County, North Dakota. FishableWaters aggregates every stocking record for this water from North Dakota's fish & wildlife agency; the latest schedule and today's bite windows are above.
Best days this week
Days near a new or full moon tend to fish best.
Today's bite windows
Conditions, next 3 days
Today
Overcast
85°
59°
8 mph
2%
Sat
Overcast
97°
64°
19 mph
5%
Sun
Overcast
110°
76°
23 mph
3%
↗ pressure risingPost-front rising pressure can slow things down for a day.
Stocking ledger
No published stocking records yet. This water stays in our books — the ledger begins the hour its state agency publishes a record.
Angler reports
What's biting
No reports yet — be the first
Best bite times
No reports yet
Field notes
No notes yet
Nearby waters
- Nelson Lake2.4 mi
- Lake Margaret4.2 mi
- Billows Lake4.9 mi
- Crooked Lake4.4 mi
- Lake Williams6.0 mi
- Peterson Lake6.2 mi
- Lake Holmes6.0 mistocked Jun 17, 2026
- Lake Brekken5.7 mistocked Jun 17, 2026
Seasons, limits, and rules are the state's call — check the official ND regulations and buy your license before you go. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
Cottonwood Lake fishing — FAQ
Do I need a license to fish Cottonwood Lake?+
Yes — North Dakota requires a fishing license. Buy one from the state and check current seasons and limits before you go; both are linked on this page.
Where is Cottonwood Lake?+
Cottonwood Lake is a lake in McLean County, North Dakota. Driving directions and an interactive topo map are on this page.