---
type: lake
name: "Strand Lake"
county: "St. Louis"
nearest_town: "Cotton"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 330
max_depth_ft: 16
latitude: 47.14381
longitude: -92.4078
lake_score: 51
dnr_lake_id: "69052900"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/strand-lake
---

# Strand Lake

Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Cotton

- **Surface Area**: 330 acres
- **Max Depth**: 16 ft
- **Shoreline**: 5.2 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 3.9 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- **Lake Score**: 51/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Strand Lake is a 330-acre lake near Cotton in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 16 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 5.2 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 3.9 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 12 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. Special fishing regulations apply to crappie and sunfish, and they override the statewide limits. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.

There is one public boat launch (gravel or earth surface) managed by the township. Ice typically goes out around April 17, based on 10 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (gravel or earth)
- **Managed by**: township
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 12
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: Yes
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

### Special Regulations

- **Crappie, Sunfish**: Daily limit five.

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 17
- **Years of record**: 10
- **Earliest**: 2006-04-11
- **Latest**: 2008-04-26

## Nearby Lakes

- [Leora Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/leora-lake) - 2.8 miles, 263 acres
- [Long Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/long-lake-cotton) - 4.8 miles, 199 acres
- [Cameron Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/cameron-lake) - 5 miles, 168 acres
- [Schubert Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/schubert-lake) - 5.5 miles, 212 acres
- [Dinham Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/dinham-lake) - 5.7 miles, 202 acres
- [Nichols Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/nichols-lake) - 7.1 miles, 419 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=47.14381,-92.4078)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=69052900)
- [All lakes in St. Louis County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/strand-lake)*