Kempton Lake Fishing near Liverpool, Nova Scotia

• Overview

  Kempton Lake lies in Queens County, in Nova Scotia. The sea is 24 km distant. It measures some 2.67 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. With 9.1 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. It ranks high for size among our Queens County listings. The closest town, Liverpool, is 25 km distant. After that come Shelburne at 47 km and Bridgewater at 48 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Kempton Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Queens County list smallmouth bass, Atlantic whitefish and yellow perch. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Anyone new to Kempton Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -5°C in January up to 18°C in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. The season between ice runs from about early April to late December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Kempton Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Toney Lake is 3.8 km distant. Check the position on Kempton Lake before loading the car.