Cottonwood Lake, Nebraska: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Holt County entry here is Cottonwood Lake, in Nebraska. It lies 2,221 feet above sea level. The water covers some 107 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. About 1.9 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. On our Holt County list it sits near the top for size. Some 13 miles away sits Atkinson, the nearest settlement. Sioux Falls sits 143 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Cottonwood Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Holt County include common carp, green sunfish and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Fish Cottonwood Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 21°F to 75°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. The open-water window runs from around late March to about early December in an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That is the shape of the year on Cottonwood Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Lizard Lake is 1.7 miles off. Confirm access to Cottonwood Lake locally before you travel.