Wainwright Lake, Nova Scotia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Wainwright Lake sits in Shelburne County, out in Nova Scotia. The surface lies 108 metres up. The water covers some 22 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 2.4 km on foot. For supplies, Shelburne is 43 km out. Liverpool is 55 km and Digby 60 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Wainwright Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Shelburne County cover American eel, alewife, Atlantic whitefish, yellow perch and Atlantic salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Wainwright Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 18°C; by January the average is down near -5°C. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to Wainwright Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Long Lake sits 0.6 km off and takes the overflow. Where Wainwright Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.