Fishing at Forks Lake, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia

• Overview

  Set in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, this is Forks Lake. Salt water lies 4.9 km off. Small at around 7 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Head to Antigonish, 55 km away, for anything you forgot. It is 150 km to Dartmouth, the nearest city. Close by you also have: Lake on the Mountain about 1.4 km, Mud Lake roughly 1.8 km, Cains Lake about 1.9 km, Rocky Lake roughly 2.2 km and Deer Lake about 2.7 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Forks Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Guysborough County records list alewife, American eel, brook trout, Atlantic salmon and blueback herring among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. The near bank of Forks Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -6°C in February up to 18°C in August. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Forks Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Lake on the Mountain, 1.4 km out. For Forks Lake in particular, ask before you travel.