Fishing McInnis Lake in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia

• Overview

  McInnis Lake sits in Guysborough County, out in Nova Scotia. Height above sea level is 33 metres. Small at around 5 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Antigonish lies 32 km from the water. The nearest city of size is Dartmouth, 138 km away. Within easy reach: Lochiel Lake 2.9 km away, 3.4 km out stands Jordy Mitchells Lake, Trout Lake 3.5 km away, 3.8 km out stands Trout Lake and Sinclair Lake 4.4 km away. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on McInnis Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Guysborough County list alewife, American eel and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish McInnis Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 18°C at the top of summer and -7°C at the bottom of winter. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and mid December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Plan any trip to McInnis Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Lochiel Lake at 2.9 km is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at McInnis Lake for certain.