Back Meadow Lake, New Brunswick: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  New Brunswick holds Back Meadow Lake, in Charlotte County. This is pine and birch ground. At 5 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The nearest town is St. George, 22 km away. After that come Pennfield at 22 km and Eastern Charlotte at 23 km. Nearby, in order: Williamson Lake 1.7 km, Ham Lee Lake near enough 2.4 km, Smith Lake 2.5 km, Tamarack Lake near enough 2.6 km and Bear Lake 2.6 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Back Meadow Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Charlotte County include Atlantic salmon, alewife and rainbow smelt. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Back Meadow Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -9°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about early December in an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Back Meadow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Williamson Lake at 1.7 km is the nearest alternative. Treat Back Meadow Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.