Fishing at Cow Lake, Charlotte County, New Brunswick

• Overview

  Cow Lake is one of the Charlotte County waters in New Brunswick. It sits in pine and birch country. At about 16 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Around 2.0 km of margin, front to back. The nearest town is St. George, 6.8 km away. Eastern Charlotte follows at 10 km, then Pennfield at 14 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Cow Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Charlotte County records list Atlantic salmon, alewife and rainbow smelt among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The shape of Cow Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -8°C in January up to 18°C in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. On average, mid April opens the water and early December closes it again. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Cow Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. 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. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Rocky Lake is 1 km off. For Cow Lake in particular, ask before you travel.