Five Island Lake near Port Hawkesbury: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Five Island Lake lies in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. The bank gives way to pine and birch. The water covers some 40 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge covers about 5.3 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. On our Guysborough County list it sits near the top for size. Head to Port Hawkesbury, 31 km away, for anything you forgot. Sydney is the closest city, 137 km away. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Five Island Lake

  We hold no depth figure 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. Records held for Guysborough County cover alewife, American eel, brook trout, Atlantic salmon and blueback herring. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Five Island Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 18°C; the cold one sits at -6°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. On average, late April opens the water and late December closes it again. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Five Island Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Hart Lake, 2.6 km away. Check the current arrangement for Five Island Lake.