Fishing at Heslip Lake, Cochrane District, Ontario

• Overview

  Heslip Lake sits within Cochrane District in Ontario. Height above sea level is 289 metres. At 4 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Cochrane District are larger. The nearest town is Iroquois Falls, 35 km away. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 226 km distant. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Heslip Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Cochrane District: northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker, Iowa darter and logperch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Heslip Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -18°C in January up to 17°C in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Heslip Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, McMillan Lake is 0.8 km distant. Confirm access to Heslip Lake locally before you travel.