Fishing Cochran Lake

Cochran Lake is a shallow 27-acre natural lake surrounded entirely by state land with winterkill potential that shapes its fishing opportunities. Bluegill dominate the fishery with 381 fish caught representing 73% of the survey, showing above-average growth (+0.4 inches) and good numbers in the 6-8 inch range with eight year classes indicating consistent spawning success. It takes about five years for bluegill to reach the preferred 7-inch harvest size. Largemouth bass are the only predator, averaging around 10 inches with a fair number reaching the 14-inch legal size, though they're more vulnerable to winterkill than bluegill as evidenced by dead bass observed during the 2014 survey following a harsh winter. The lake has a fascinating management history including chemical treatment with rotenone in 1959 to eliminate all fish and start over, though the kill was incomplete. Northern pike were historically present but none were caught in 2014, while yellow perch numbers have declined dramatically from fair catches of 7-10 inch fish in 1969 to just one 4-inch fish in 2014. The lake bottom is primarily sand and detritus with common summer aquatic vegetation, and it doesn't thermally stratify, maintaining warm water and adequate oxygen throughout when not ice-covered. A small gravel boat launch on the northeast shore accommodates car-top boats and canoes with dispersed camping popular around the lake.