Goose Lake, New Brunswick: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Queens County, New Brunswick, sits Goose Lake. Elevation runs to 49 metres. On water this small, stealth matters more than range. Our Queens County list holds plenty of bigger water. Nearest town is Petitcodiac, 23 km off. For a city, Dartmouth is 211 km off. Others within reach: Snowshoe Lake 13 km away, Lower Lake some 16 km off, Lake Stream Lake 16 km away, Cranberry Lake some 22 km off and Birch Ridge Lake 25 km away. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Goose Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Queens County, recorded fish include yellow perch, alewife, pumpkinseed and chain pickerel. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Goose Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -9°C and July at about 19°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Goose Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Snowshoe Lake at 13 km is the nearest alternative. What applies at Goose Lake may have changed since it was mapped.