Hunsons Lake in Guysborough County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Hunsons Lake falls in Guysborough County, part of Nova Scotia. The surface lies 118 metres up. It covers about 8 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The closest town, Port Hawkesbury, is 12 km distant. Further out sit Louisdale (30 km) and Princeville (30 km). Not far off: Halfmoon Lake at 1.3 km, West Lake lies 2.4 km on, Carters Lake at 3.5 km, Haydens Lake lies 3.8 km on and Goose Harbour Lake at 4.1 km. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Hunsons Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name alewife, American eel, brook trout, Atlantic salmon and blueback herring. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Hunsons Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 18°C and February near -7°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It sets the rhythm of the year at Hunsons Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Halfmoon Lake is 1.3 km off. Check the position at Hunsons Lake before loading the car.