Fishing at Terminal Lake, Cochrane District, Ontario

• Overview

  Terminal Lake lies in Cochrane District, Ontario. Land around it is spruce and muskeg. With some 16 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Bank access stretches around 2.4 km in total. Cochrane sits 31 km from the bank. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 292 km distant. Nearby alternatives: Lady Lake sits 1.6 km out, Mawibuha Lake 6.4 km away, Jackpine Lake sits 7.1 km out, Wade Lake 7.8 km away and Picker Lake sits 9.2 km out. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Terminal Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. County-wide records name northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker, Iowa darter and logperch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Work Terminal Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 16°C, while January sits near -19°C. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Open water usually runs from early May until about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Terminal Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Lady Lake at 1.6 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Terminal Lake locally before you travel.