Bradley Lake in Cochrane District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Bradley Lake in Cochrane District, Ontario. It sits in mixed forest country. About 8 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Cochrane District list. Some 35 km away sits Iroquois Falls, the nearest settlement. It is 219 km to Greater Sudbury, the nearest city. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Bradley Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Cochrane District include northern pike, yellow perch and white sucker. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Bradley Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -18°C to 17°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. The water is typically free of ice between early May and mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan around that when you fish Bradley Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Grassy Lake, 6.7 km away. The position on Bradley Lake is worth confirming on the day.