Cockscomb Lake Fishing Guide, Hants, Nova Scotia

• Overview

  In Nova Scotia, Cockscomb Lake belongs to Hants. Tidal water begins 22 km from here. This is sizeable water at about 1.51 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. Some 12 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It ranks high for size among our Hants listings. Mount Uniacke is the closest town at 3.1 km. The big place round here is Dartmouth, 35 km distant. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Cockscomb Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. 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 Hants cover American eel, Atlantic salmon, striped bass and smallmouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Cockscomb Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 18°C at the top of summer and -6°C at the bottom of winter. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to mid December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Time your trip to Cockscomb Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Sheepskin Lake, 1.9 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Cockscomb Lake before loading the car.