Chipman Lake Fishing near Longlac, Ontario

• Overview

  Cochrane District in Ontario is where Chipman Lake sits. The bank gives way to northern bush. At roughly 27.22 sq km it ranks among the larger waters in the region. The bank runs about 76 km in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Size puts it in the front rank of our Cochrane District list. 31 km away sits Longlac, the nearest town. After that come Geraldton at 58 km and Greenstone at 72 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Chipman Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Cochrane District, recorded fish include northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker and Iowa darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The near bank of Chipman Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 16°C and January near -19°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It sets the rhythm of the year at Chipman Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. 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. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Pardee Lake at 6.6 km is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Chipman Lake should be assumed from this page alone.