Fishing Redhead Lake in Cochrane District, Ontario

• Overview

  Redhead Lake is one of the Cochrane District listings for Ontario. The water sits 171 metres up. About 5 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Cochrane District are larger. 52 km away sits Hearst, the nearest town. Then Hornepayne, 100 km, and Kapuskasing, 142 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Redhead Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Cochrane District cover northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker, Iowa darter and logperch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Redhead Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 17°C and January at -19°C. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Redhead Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Canvasback Lake sits 0.4 km off and takes the overflow. Rules at Redhead Lake are worth checking on the day.