WikiCatchCottonwood Lake
South Dakota, United States
- lake
- 5 species listed
- 45.1115, -97.2171
Cottonwood Lake is a lake in South Dakota, United States. WikiCatch lists 5 fish species for this water, including Yellow perch, Northern pike, Smallmouth bass. The nearest other water we map in South Dakota is Still Lake, 8.6 km away.
Species at Cottonwood Lake
Map
Depth contours are drawn where survey data exists for this water. View on OpenStreetMap →
See the rest of Cottonwood Lake in the app
- • Hour-by-hour bite forecast for the species listed here
- • 7-day wind, pressure, temperature and solunar
- • The depth map with your live position on the water
- • Log catches and save the spot
Free to download. Pro is $4.99/month or $29.99/year, with a 7-day free trial on yearly.
Nearby waters
- Still Lakelake8.6 km
- Mud Creekstream14 km
- Grass Lakelake14 km
- Lyles Creekstream16 km
- Lake Nicholsonlake16 km
- Cooley Lakelake16 km
- Goose Lakelake17 km
- Horseshoe Lakelake17 km
About Cottonwood Lake
Cottonwood Lake, in South Dakota, United States, is the kind of lake where a careful approach pays off. Shore anglers do well casting parallel to the bank along reed lines and overhanging trees, where ambush predators wait. Boat anglers can fan-cast points and submerged humps — anywhere the bottom changes depth quickly. Lure choice at Cottonwood Lake usually mirrors the local forage: small baitfish imitations in spring, larger profiles through summer.
Reference: Wikipedia
Fishing Techniques
- For Yellow perch
When perch are finicky, downsize your bait or lure and use lighter line to increase your chances of getting a bite. Focus on areas near weed beds or drop-offs as they often hold schools of perch.
- For Northern pike
Vary your retrieval speed and add pauses to entice strikes, especially in colder water.
- For Smallmouth bass
Focus your fishing efforts around rocky structures, ledges, and areas with current, as smallmouth bass prefer these habitats.
Recommended Gear
Tackle commonly used to target the species at Cottonwood Lake.
Plan Your Trip
Anglers heading to Cottonwood Lake should sort licences and confirm seasonal regulations for South Dakota before the trip. A quick weather check the morning of helps too — wind direction in particular can make or break a session at a spot like Cottonwood Lake.
Official South Dakota fishing regulations →Other Fishing Regions in United States
Website data snapshot: October 24, 2026. Spot location from OpenStreetMap and Wikipedia, species from the WikiCatch database.