Little Thorning Lake in Cochrane District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Little Thorning Lake lies in Cochrane District, Ontario. It stands 273 metres above sea level. With some 56 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 4.5 km on foot. Cochrane lies 39 km from the water. After that come Smooth Rock Falls at 63 km and Iroquois Falls at 67 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Little Thorning Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Cochrane District include northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker, Iowa darter and logperch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Little Thorning Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 17°C and January near -19°C. This far north the hard season runs and runs. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan any trip to Little Thorning Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Long Lake at 4.3 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Little Thorning Lake is worth confirming on the day.