Lena Lake, Nova Scotia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lena Lake is a Victoria County water, Nova Scotia side. The shore lies 26 km out. It covers about 8 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Supplies mean a trip to Ingonish, 58 km off. For a city, Sydney is 118 km off. Also within reach: Ethel Lake the better part of 1 km, MacEacherns Lake roughly 39 km, Griffins Lake the better part of 40 km, Paquets Lake roughly 46 km and Effies Lake the better part of 47 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lena Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Victoria County include Atlantic salmon, striped bass, alewife and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Treat Lena Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 17°C and February about -6°C. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about late December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. That is the shape of the year on Lena Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. St. Paul Island National Wildlife Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Ethel Lake at 1 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Lena Lake before loading the car.