Fishing for Smallmouth Bass in New Brunswick

Fishing for Smallmouth Bass in New Brunswick
Bass fishing is becoming more and more popular among North American anglers, not to mention it is a billion dollar industry. The popularity of bass fishing, particularly in the case of smallmouth bass, is due in part to the excitement and adrenaline rush associated with conquering these feisty creatures. Smallmouth bass are well known for their spectacular showmanship; their agility, fighting stamina and leaping ability.  A great place to match your angling prowess against that of these formidable opponents, the smallmouth bass, is in the lakes and rivers of New Brunswick.

New Brunswick (NB) is a popular destination for big game hunting and anglers come from far and wide to sample its excellent offerings of sports fishing. NB has achieved international recognition for smallmouth bass fishing. Introduced to NB around 1869, there is a well-established, healthy smallmouth bass population in many waters including the Magaguadavic, Petitcodiac, Saint John, Musquashand and St Croix drainages. They love to hang out in moderately shallow, sandy, rocky locations of rivers and lakes.  

Where to fish:  There is no shortage of smallmouth bass fishing locations in New Brunswick. Smallmouth bass have effectively colonized all fishable waters and suitable habitats. Here are some of the popular fishing areas.
Lake Utopia is home to the largest and most accessible bass fishing population in Charlotte County. Expect to get some great topwater action at the peak of the smallmouth bass fishing season in early July.
Saint John River: Think you can handle up to 40 smallmouth bass in a day of fishing? If the answer is “yes” then you have to get to Saint John River located between Oromocto and Gagetown. Here you will find not only quantity but quality smallmouth bass. Expect a lot of action throughout the fishing season as well as thrilling topwater action in the post spawn period.
Harvey Lake:  Harvey Lake is located in the village of Harvey which is also known as the Bass Fishing capital of New Brunswick. Here is where you will find some of the larger smallmouth bass due to an abundance of forage in the lake. If you want to increase your chances of catching the larger smallmouth bass, the pre-spawn period in May to early June is the best time.  Maximize your chances of success by fishing the shallows in reed beds and rocky structures.
Magaguadavic Lake: This is a large lake that is easily accessible and has all the right structures that make it appealing to an abundance of fish. It is not a stretch to catch over 30 fish in a day so be prepared for a full day of fishing to your heart’s content.  If you visit Magaguadavic Lake in the fall you will be in for a lot more pleasant surprises since the lake is famous for its superb fall fishing.
Meduxnekeag River is part of the headpond which is the ideal habitat for a variety of bass species. Meduxnekeag River has deep sandbars, flooded road beds and tributary streams. In the peace and quiet of an early morning fishing trip, you can get quite lucky catching dozens of bass within an hour. In early spring, in preparation for spawning, the smallmouth bass will be moving from the headpond into the Meduxnekeag River providing more lucrative fishing opportunities.
Palfrey & Spednic Lakes: These two lakes are pretty much untapped even though they are two of the most fertile bass fisheries in New Brunswick.  Lake Palfrey and Lake Spednic are part of a reservoir that was created by a dam at St Croix. Here you are in angler’s heaven, pulling in upwards of 50 fish within a day. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Anglers have ample opportunities to catch plenty of smallmouth bass in the lakes and rivers of New Brunswick from mid-April to mid-October. However, there are restrictions in place to preserve the fish population for generations to come. There are Catch and Release regulations for certain periods as well as numerous gear and bait restrictions. Before making the trip to New Brunswick, check out the relevant website for details. But regardless of the restrictions, it is well worth the trip for the pleasure of angling in one of the more than 200 bass waters in New Brunswick.

​FISH ON!