Matties Lake in Guysborough County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Guysborough County in Nova Scotia is where Matties Lake sits. It sits in rolling bush. Around 27 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. There is roughly 2.5 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Nearest place of any size is Port Hawkesbury, 9.3 km away. The big place round here is Sydney, 116 km distant. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Matties Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Guysborough County records list alewife, American eel and brook trout among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The near bank of Matties Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 18°C and February near -7°C. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. Climate figures give an open season running late April to late December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Matties Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Mary Lake is 1.3 km off. Check the position on Matties Lake before loading the car.