Winter Pond in Lord's Cove: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Winter Pond in the Lord's Cove part of Newfoundland and Labrador. The coast is 2.3 km away. The water covers some 17 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 2.9 km of margin, front to back. Ground here is low by Newfoundland and Labrador standards. Some 22 km away sits Fortune, the nearest settlement. St. John's is the closest city, 238 km away. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Winter Pond

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Being tidal, the water moves twice a day, and the fishing moves with it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Take Winter Pond a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 16°C at the top of summer and -4°C at the bottom of winter. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late December: that is the shape of an average year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan around that when you fish Winter Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, High Bank Pond is 0.2 km off. Check the current arrangement for Winter Pond.