Fishing at Dalton Lake, Cochrane District, Ontario

• Overview

  Dalton Lake lies in Cochrane District, in Ontario. The water sits 314 metres up. With some 10 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The bank runs about 2.1 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Nearest place of any size is Kirkland Lake, 43 km away. Iroquois Falls is 48 km away, with Timmins at 60 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Dalton Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. 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. Public occurrence data for Cochrane District names northern pike, yellow perch and white sucker. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Dalton Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 17°C and January near -18°C on the long-run figures. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Dalton Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Tippet Lake, 1.1 km away. Confirm before you fish Dalton Lake.