Kempton Lake, Nova Scotia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Kempton Lake stands in Queens County, Nova Scotia. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. Surface area is around 16 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Shoreline comes to about 2.0 km, small enough to learn in a day. The nearest town is Bridgewater, 47 km away. Beyond it, Liverpool at 54 km and Digby at 56 km. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Kempton Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Queens County records list smallmouth bass, Atlantic whitefish and yellow perch among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Kempton Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 18°C at the top of summer and -6°C at the bottom of winter. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. From about mid April to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It holds true on Kempton Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Holdrights Lake is 0.5 km off. Check the position on Kempton Lake before loading the car.