Fishing Dunn Lake in Cochrane District, Ontario

• Overview

  Dunn Lake is one of the Cochrane District waters in Ontario. The bank is 258 metres above sea level. The water covers some 24 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 2.9 km on foot. Nearest place of any size is Cochrane, 9.8 km away. Further out sit Smooth Rock Falls (44 km) and Iroquois Falls (46 km). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Dunn Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Cochrane District names northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker and Iowa darter. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Dunn Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -19°C to 17°C. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Time your trip to Dunn Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A pier or jetty stands 700 m away, which helps on a crowded bank. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is O'Malley Lake, 1.7 km out. For Dunn Lake in particular, ask before you travel.