Fishing St. Josephs Lake in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia

• Overview

  Look for St. Josephs Lake in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia. It lies 34 metres above sea level. The water covers some 34 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. A shoreline of some 3.0 km keeps the choices simple. It ranks high for size among our Antigonish County listings. The nearest place of any size is Antigonish, 11 km away. Beyond it, Trenton at 44 km and New Glasgow at 45 km. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on St. Josephs Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Antigonish County include American eel, striped bass, brook trout, alewife and rainbow smelt. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. St. Josephs Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 18°C; by February the average is down near -7°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to mid December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Anyone fishing St. Josephs Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Gaspereaux Lake at 3.1 km is the sensible second choice. For St. Josephs Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.