Steers Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Steers Lake lies within the bounds of Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador. The ground round it is taiga. At some 2.19 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. At about 8.5 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It sits higher than most water we list in Newfoundland and Labrador. Supplies mean a trip to Labrador City, 56 km off. Wabush is 59 km away, with Fermont at 76 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Steers Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Labrador City cover brook trout, northern pike and Atlantic salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Steers Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 13°C in July and bottoms out near -23°C in January. This far north the hard season runs and runs. After late May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages suggest open water from about late May through to roughly late October. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It holds true on Steers Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Nault Lake is 5.8 km off. Where Steers Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.