Great Gull Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Newfoundland and Labrador holds Great Gull Lake, in Robert's Arm. Tidal water begins 26 km from here. Roughly 7.32 sq km of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. Some 50 km of shoreline means conditions can differ from one end to the other. 34 km away sits Springdale, the nearest town. Grand Falls-Windsor is 46 km away, with Bishop's Falls at 53 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Great Gull Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Robert's Arm include Atlantic salmon, Arctic charr and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Great Gull Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -9°C in February and 16°C in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Time your trip to Great Gull Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A pier 650 m from here gives a platform over deeper water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Long Pond at 8.5 km is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Great Gull Lake if anything is unclear.