Cottonwood Lake Fishing in El Paso County, Texas

• Overview

  The El Paso County entry here is Cottonwood Lake, in Texas. This is dry open country ground. With some 81 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. It sits higher than most water we list in Texas. Head to Fabens, 5.2 miles away, for anything you forgot. After that come Tornillo at 7.1 miles and Agua Dulce at 8 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Cottonwood Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include gizzard shad, common carp, channel catfish and largemouth bass. Treat it as evidence of what swims in the area. The shape of Cottonwood Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 82°F and January at 42°F. Heat sets the pattern from late spring onward. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. At Cottonwood Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Records show it does not hold water year-round. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Rattlesnake Lake is 0.6 miles off. What applies at Cottonwood Lake may have changed since it was mapped.