Fishing Long Lake in Colchester, Nova Scotia

• Overview

  Set in Colchester, Nova Scotia, this is Long Lake. Tidal water begins 18 km from here. This is a pocket water of some 7 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The nearest town is Bible Hill, 13 km away. Dartmouth is the closest city, 74 km away. In the same area: Bob Lake near enough 0.8 km, Trout Lake after 1.3 km, Barren Lake near enough 2 km, Dick Pike Lake after 6.1 km and Trenholms Lake near enough 7.7 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Colchester: Atlantic salmon, striped bass, brook trout, American eel and white sucker. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Long Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -7°C to 18°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly mid December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It holds true on Long Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Bob Lake at 0.8 km is the sensible second choice. Signs at Long Lake carry more weight than any list.