Rattle Pond, Newfoundland and Labrador: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Rattle Pond belongs to St. Bernard's-Jacques Fontaine, Newfoundland and Labrador. The setting is mixed forest. It measures about 41 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The shoreline runs about 5.1 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our St. Bernard's-Jacques Fontaine list it sits near the top for size. The town to know is Marystown, 41 km out. Burin follows at 51 km, then Harbour Breton at 72 km. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Rattle Pond

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name Atlantic salmon and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Rattle Pond to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in August and bottom out at -6°C in February. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. From about late April to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Rattle Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Otter Pond is 1.7 km distant. Check the current arrangement for Rattle Pond.