Fishing at McDonald Lake, Saint John County, New Brunswick

• Overview

  This water sits in Saint John County, New Brunswick. The surface lies 84 metres up. The water measures roughly 7 hectares, so nothing here is far from anything else. Some 11 km away sits Wells, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Forest Hills at 12 km and Red Head at 12 km. Neighbouring water: Browns Lake within 2.8 km, Perch Lake 3.1 km off, Round Lake within 3.6 km, Second Eastern Lake 3.7 km off and Grassy Lake within 3.9 km. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on McDonald Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Saint John County records list alewife, Atlantic salmon and rainbow smelt among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. McDonald Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -8°C in January and 18°C in July. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly mid December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That is the shape of the year on McDonald Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For salmon, swing spoons or flies through the moving water and mind the local method rules. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Browns Lake at 2.8 km is the sensible second choice. For McDonald Lake in particular, ask before you travel.