Guards Pond in Marystown: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Guards Pond belongs to Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador. The water sits 53 metres up. At 7 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Head to Marystown, 5 km away, for anything you forgot. The big place round here is St. John's, 186 km distant. Within easy reach: Round Pond at 0.6 km, Linton Lake 1.1 km off, Clam Pond at 2.5 km, Little Clam Pond 2.6 km off and Kidmans Pond at 2.9 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Guards Pond

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name American eel, bull-rout and blue runner. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Guards Pond responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -5°C to 16°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. The lid tends to go about late April and return around mid December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan any trip to Guards Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Round Pond sits 0.6 km off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Guards Pond should be assumed from this page alone.