Fishing at Cottonwood Lake, Columbia County, Oregon

• Overview

  Cottonwood Lake is one of the Columbia County waters in Oregon. The coast is 22 miles away. It is low-lying compared with other Oregon water we list. For supplies, Kalama is 3.1 miles out. Columbia City is 5.3 miles away, with Woodland at 6.2 miles. Nearby, in order: Box Lake lies 0.5 miles on, 0.9 miles away is Resting Lake, Adams Lake lies 1 mile on, 1.2 miles away is Thorn Lake and Horsepasture Lake lies 1.7 miles on. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Cottonwood Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Columbia County: Coho salmon, bluegill, yellow perch, largemouth bass and white crappie. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Cottonwood Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 64°F in August and bottoms out near 39°F in January. The surface stays open the year round. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Plan any trip to Cottonwood Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Box Lake, 0.5 miles out. Check the position at Cottonwood Lake before loading the car.