Nass Lake in Lunenburg County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Nova Scotia, Nass Lake falls inside Lunenburg County. This is mixed forest country. It covers about 6 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Lunenburg County standards. Nearest town is Mahone Bay, 19 km off. Halifax sits 74 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Nass Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Lunenburg County cover American eel, Atlantic whitefish, smallmouth bass and striped bass. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Nass Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -6°C in January and 18°C in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near mid December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. At Nass Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Grandmother Head Lake, 1.5 km out. The position on Nass Lake is worth confirming on the day.