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Cottonwood Lake

Boat Ramps
1
Access Points
1
Species
2

Cottonwood Lake sits just one mile east and half a mile north of Alamo in Williams County, North Dakota. This warmwater fishery is managed primarily for walleye, with fingerlings stocked annually by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. The lake supports natural reproduction and growth of warmwater species and provides a diverse fishing experience. A fishing pier enhances accessibility for anglers of all abilities. The lake is part of the Upper Missouri River Basin watershed and has experienced periodic challenges with winterkill events, most recently a partial winterkill in 2023 that primarily affected the walleye population.


Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Cottonwood Lake and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens


Fish stocking schedule

Latest 5 stockings

  • Northern Pike42,000 fish · FingerlingsMay 23, 2026
  • Yellow Perch3,000 fish · AdultsApr 24, 2026
  • Yellow Perch1,120 fish · AdultsApr 16, 2026
  • Yellow Perch527 fish · AdultsApr 9, 2026
  • Yellow Perch8,316 fish · AdultsApr 28, 2025

Source

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

Updated Nov 13, 2026. Dates are as precise as the agency reports them.

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Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Cottonwood Lake. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Know where you can legally fish on Cottonwood Lake

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

North Dakota licenses and regulations

North Dakota Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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North Dakota Fishing License

Residents and Nonresidents under 16 years old and older are not required to have a fishing license

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North Dakota Fishing Regulations

This state has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this state is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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North Dakota Stream Access Laws

Any person, before commencing any construction for the purpose of appropriating waters of the state or before taking waters of the state from any constructed works, shall first secure a water permit from the state engineer unless such construction or taking from such constructed works is for domestic or livestock purposes or for fish, wildlife, and other recreational uses.

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Take Cottonwood Lake with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

  • Use the map without signal

    Download the map around Cottonwood Lake to use it offline when coverage drops.

  • Log your catches here

    Keep a private fishing journal for Cottonwood Lake to find where and when fish are biting for you.

  • HD depth charts from Garmin

    Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.

Get the onWater Fish app

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Water and weather conditions (10 day forecast)

See the best times to fish Cottonwood Lake and check the forecast before you go.

No forecast data available.


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