Fishing Upper Chain Lake in Hants, Nova Scotia

• Overview

  Upper Chain Lake sits in Hants, out in Nova Scotia. Elevation runs to 205 metres. It covers about 9 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Compared with other Nova Scotia water on our list, it sits high. Nearest town is Windsor, 22 km off. Wolfville follows at 26 km, then New Minas at 27 km. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Upper Chain Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name American eel, Atlantic salmon, striped bass, smallmouth bass and rainbow smelt. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Upper Chain Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -6°C in January to roughly 18°C in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Upper Chain Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Chain Lake, 1.5 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Upper Chain Lake if anything is unclear.