Fishing Balsam Lake in Cochrane District, Ontario

• Overview

  The Cochrane District end of Ontario holds Balsam Lake. The water sits 229 metres up. Small at around 3 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Cochrane District list. For supplies, Kapuskasing is 22 km out. Smooth Rock Falls follows at 38 km, then Cochrane at 88 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Balsam Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Cochrane District, recorded fish include northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker, Iowa darter and logperch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Treat Balsam Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 17°C, the coldest about -18°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. The water is typically free of ice between early May and mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Balsam Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Bonner Lake, 2.6 km out. Signs at Balsam Lake carry more weight than any list.