Moose Lake Fishing near Upper Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia

• Overview

  Moose Lake is one of the Halifax Regional Municipality waters in Nova Scotia. Salt water lies 14 km off. Around 13 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. A shoreline of some 1.5 km keeps the choices simple. Upper Hammonds Plains at 14 km is the nearest place to stop. Dartmouth is the closest city, 36 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Moose Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name brook trout, alewife, rainbow smelt, American eel and Atlantic salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Moose Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -6°C to 18°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly mid December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It sets the rhythm of the year at Moose Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. 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. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Hand Lake, 0.7 km away. Signs at Moose Lake carry more weight than any list.