Gilling River, Newfoundland and Labrador: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Gilling River sits within Newfoundland and Labrador in Newfoundland and Labrador. The setting is northern bush on every side. It is high ground by Newfoundland and Labrador standards. Labrador City at 190 km is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Saguenay, 757 km away. What else is close: Mike Lake after 4.1 km, Lac Houston (9.5 km), Lac Malcolm after 14 km, Lac Gene (16 km) and Wishart Lake after 17 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Gilling River

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Undercut banks hold fish that the middle of the river never will. The outside of each bend cuts deepest and holds the better fish. Fish Gilling River where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep. The same spot fishes differently at either end of the day.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 12°C, with January the cold end at about -24°C. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Ice takes the slower stretches in winter; by late May the whole run is open again. Averages place the thaw at late May and the freeze at late October. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On Gilling River that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Mike Lake at 4.1 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Gilling River.