Fishing Cardinal Lake in Cochrane District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Cardinal Lake falls inside Cochrane District. Country round the bank runs to northern bush. Around 15 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. Around 2.6 km of margin, front to back. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Ontario listings. For a base, Hearst sits 52 km out. Hornepayne is 99 km away, with Kapuskasing at 141 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Cardinal Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Cochrane District include northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker and Iowa darter. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Cardinal Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 17°C in July and bottom out at -19°C in January. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Cardinal Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Goldeneye Lake sits 0.3 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Cardinal Lake before loading the car.