Big Pond Fishing near Whitbourne, Newfoundland and Labrador

• Overview

  Big Pond lies in Norman's Cove-Long Cove, in Newfoundland and Labrador. The bank is 15 metres above sea level. Around 45 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. About 3.9 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. It ranks high for size among our Norman's Cove-Long Cove listings. Nearest town is Whitbourne, 28 km off. Further out sit Spaniard's Bay (34 km) and Clarke's Beach (35 km). Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Big Pond

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Work the tide here — moving water feeds, slack water rests. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Norman's Cove-Long Cove, recorded fish include Atlantic cod, American eel and Atlantic salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The shape of Big Pond decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 15°C in August and bottom out at -5°C in February. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near late December in autumn. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Big Pond runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is a pier recorded roughly 960 m away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Middle Pond at 1.3 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Big Pond before loading the car.