McFadden Lake near Fundy-St. Martins: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Saint John County, McFadden Lake is a New Brunswick water. Elevation runs to 303 metres. There is roughly 1.5 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It sits higher than most water we list in New Brunswick. The nearest place of any size is Fundy-St. Martins, 9.1 km away. The nearest city of size is Dartmouth, 174 km away. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on McFadden Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Saint John County cover alewife, Atlantic salmon, rainbow smelt, American shad and American eel. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish McFadden Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 17°C at the top of summer and -9°C at the bottom of winter. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish McFadden Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Salmon and sea-run fish answer to spoons and spinners where lure fishing is allowed; check the method rules first. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Portage Lake at 0.9 km is the sensible second choice. Treat access at McFadden Lake as something to verify.