Fishing at Louise Lake, Cochrane District, Ontario

• Overview

  Out in Cochrane District, Ontario, sits Louise Lake. Height above sea level is 240 metres. It measures about 92 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 5.8 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. It is among the larger waters listed here for Cochrane District. The closest town, Cochrane, is 24 km away. The nearest city of size is Greater Sudbury, 310 km away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Louise Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Cochrane District include northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker and Iowa darter. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Louise Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 17°C, with January the cold end at about -19°C. The window is narrow, and fish feed hard while it lasts. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. The water is typically free of ice between early May and mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. That shapes the year on Louise Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Margaret Lake is 1.5 km off. Where Louise Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.