MacDonalds Lake near Port Hawkesbury: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, is where MacDonalds Lake sits. This is rolling bush ground. Small at around 2 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Guysborough County. Nearest town is Port Hawkesbury, 26 km off. Then Antigonish, 33 km, and Princeville, 41 km. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on MacDonalds Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across Guysborough County, recorded fish include alewife, American eel, brook trout and Atlantic salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At MacDonalds Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 18°C on average, February about -7°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to MacDonalds Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Brymer Lake at 4.3 km is the nearest alternative. Nothing on MacDonalds Lake should be assumed from this page alone.