French Lake in Sunbury County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  New Brunswick holds French Lake, in Sunbury County. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. At 6.40 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. Of the waters listed here in Sunbury County, this is the largest. For a base, Maugerville sits 14 km out. The nearest city of size is Dartmouth, 252 km away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on French Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. 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. Across Sunbury County, recorded fish include alewife, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and chain pickerel. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of French Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -9°C in January up to 19°C in July. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to French Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Cowperthwaite Lake is 2.8 km off. Treat access at French Lake as something to verify.