Dave Ward Lake in Kings County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Dave Ward Lake is one of the Kings County listings for New Brunswick. The coast is 10 km away. A pocket of water where every cast reaches cover. Our Kings County list holds plenty of bigger water. Start from Fundy-St. Martins, 19 km down the road. Sussex Corner is 23 km and Sussex 25 km. Not far off: Wilkins Lake 1.9 km away, Grassy Lake just 2.5 km, Crow Lake 3 km away, Stony Lake just 3 km and Crawford Lake 3.5 km away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Dave Ward Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Kings County cover alewife, Atlantic salmon, yellow perch, brook trout and rainbow smelt. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. The shape of Dave Ward Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -9°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Time your trip to Dave Ward Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Wilkins Lake is 1.9 km distant. For Dave Ward Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.