Fishing Felst Lake in Cochrane District, Ontario

• Overview

  Felst Lake is a Cochrane District water, Ontario side. The bank gives way to spruce and muskeg. With some 46 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 3.1 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. You are 52 km from Moose Factory. After that come Moosonee at 54 km and Waskaganish at 119 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Felst Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Cochrane District include northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker, Iowa darter and logperch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Felst Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -20°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It holds true on Felst Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Paskeyau Lake at 16 km is the sensible second choice. For Felst Lake in particular, ask before you travel.