Bingham Lake Fishing in Cottonwood County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Cottonwood County in Minnesota is where Bingham Lake sits. Land around it is lake country bush. Roughly 265 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. The full circuit measures close to 3.0 miles on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Cottonwood County list. Some 5.2 miles away sits Windom, the nearest settlement. Sioux Falls is the closest city, 88 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Bingham Lake

  Sounding records show water to about 14 feet. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. County-wide records name common carp, walleye, black bullhead, yellow perch and black crappie. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Bingham Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 12°F to 72°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. On average, early April opens the water and late November closes it again. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Bingham Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Carpenter Wildlife Management Area covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Maiden Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Bingham Lake carry more weight than any list.