Cochran Pond in Washington County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Cochran Pond is set in Washington County, Oregon. The bank is 1,795 feet above sea level. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. 15 miles away sits Vernonia, the nearest town. For a city, Hillsboro is 24 miles off. Close by you have: Blue Lake a touch under 6 miles, Bloom Lake the better part of 10 miles, Dorman Pond a touch under 10 miles, Spruce Run Lake the better part of 11 miles and Lost Lake a touch under 11 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Cochran Pond

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Across Washington County, recorded fish include common carp, yellow perch, brown bullhead and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. On Cochran Pond the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 37°F in December to roughly 59°F in August. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. At Cochran Pond the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Blue Lake, 6 miles away. For Cochran Pond in particular, ask before you travel.