First Berry Hill Pond, Newfoundland and Labrador: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  St. Bernard's-Jacques Fontaine, Newfoundland and Labrador, is where First Berry Hill Pond sits. The setting is rolling bush. With some 13 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 1.9 km on foot. The closest town, Marystown, is 47 km distant. The nearest city of size is St. John's, 160 km away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on First Berry Hill Pond

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name Atlantic salmon and brook trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of First Berry Hill Pond rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in August and bottom out at -6°C in February. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on First Berry Hill Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Second Berry Hill Pond sits 0.5 km off and takes the overflow. The position on First Berry Hill Pond is worth confirming on the day.