Shrew Lake in Cochrane District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Shrew Lake lies in Cochrane District, in Ontario. It stands 286 metres above sea level. Roughly 69 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Shoreline comes to about 4.5 km, small enough to learn in a day. Hornepayne at 41 km is the nearest place to stop. Hearst is 65 km and Manitouwadge 105 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Shrew Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Cochrane District include northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker and Iowa darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Shrew Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 16°C and January near -19°C. The ice season is long here and the open one short. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on Shrew Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Lapworth Lake is 1.8 km off. None of that is settled for Shrew Lake in what we hold.