Coon Lake, Nova Scotia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Coon Lake lies within the bounds of Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. It stands 21 metres above sea level. At about 23 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The full circuit measures close to 3.2 km on foot. Supplies mean a trip to Musquodoboit Harbour, 49 km off. It is 85 km to Dartmouth, the nearest city. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Coon Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. 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. Fish Coon Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -6°C in February to roughly 18°C in August. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It holds true on Coon Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A launch point is recorded some 1.3 km off. A pier or jetty stands 840 m away, which helps on a crowded bank. A picnic area is mapped about 1.1 km away. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Little Lake is 1.7 km off. Check the current arrangement for Coon Lake.