Anderson Lake near Upper Hammonds Plains: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, is where Anderson Lake sits. Salt water lies 4.7 km off. At about 19 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The full circuit measures close to 2.3 km on foot. Nearest town is Upper Hammonds Plains, 2.7 km off. Stillwater Lake lies 4.5 km off, English Corner another 6.3 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Anderson Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Halifax Regional Municipality: brook trout, alewife, rainbow smelt, American eel and Atlantic salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The near bank of Anderson Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 18°C, with January the cold end at about -6°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near mid December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Anderson Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Public data records a pier about 1.1 km out. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Cooper Lake at 0.8 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Anderson Lake locally before you travel.