Old Mans Pond, Newfoundland and Labrador: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Old Mans Pond sits within Long Harbour-Mount Arlington Heights in Newfoundland and Labrador. Elevation runs to 46 metres. At roughly 10 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. For a base, Whitbourne sits 28 km out. The big place round here is St. John's, 88 km distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Old Mans Pond

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. 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. Fish documented in Long Harbour-Mount Arlington Heights include Arctic charr, Atlantic cod, Atlantic salmon and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Old Mans Pond that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in August and bottom out at -5°C in February. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about late December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Old Mans Pond runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Trinny Cove Gull Pond, 2 km out. The position on Old Mans Pond is worth confirming on the day.