Cottonwood Lake in El Paso County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Cottonwood Lake is set in El Paso County, Texas. It lies 4,019 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 19 acres — small enough to read in one session. Compared with other Texas water on our list, it sits high. The nearest town is Tornillo, 10 miles away. Then Fabens, 12 miles, and Agua Dulce, 12 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Cottonwood Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On Cottonwood Lake that means starting tight and working out. Change spot before you change tackle.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 81°F and January near 41°F. Winter here means light layers, not lost months. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. On Cottonwood Lake that shapes the whole year. The first warm days of the year bring fish shallow quickly.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping flags this water as intermittent: it can be dry for part of the year, so check before travelling. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Indian Cliffs Ranch Main Lake is 5.7 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Cottonwood Lake for certain.