Upper Stave Lake Fishing Guide, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia

• Overview

  Out in Shelburne County, Nova Scotia, sits Upper Stave Lake. Salt water lies 25 km off. Around 40 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. Shoreline comes to about 3.4 km, small enough to learn in a day. Nearest place of any size is Shelburne, 29 km away. After that come Liverpool at 50 km and Barrington at 54 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Upper Stave Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Across Shelburne County, recorded fish include American eel, alewife, Atlantic whitefish and yellow perch. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Read Upper Stave Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -5°C. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near late December in autumn. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It holds true on Upper Stave Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lower Stave Lake at 1.1 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Upper Stave Lake before loading the car.