At Island Lake you will experience fishing for a rarity,true wild and native strain New Brunswick Brook Trout.Island Lake has never been stocked with strains from elsewhere hence the genetic makeup of our Brook Trout hasn't changed since the glaciers receded 10,000 years ago. Natural selection has produced a hardy and unique subspecies that thrives in this unique and isolated ecosystem. In fact, Brook Trout are the only species of gamefish in Island Lake. There are no coarse fish species (chubs, suckers, perch etc.) competing with the native Brook Trout for food. The lake does, however, feature small baitfish species which co exist and act as a food source for our wild trout. Numerous mayfly and caddis fly hatches also take place throughout the summer bringing the lake alive with rolling brookies. The lake is primarily spring-fed which is rare for a lake this size. Many of these springs percolate from the lake bed. This, combined with the elevation of Island Lake ( 1500 feet above sea-level ) keeps water temperatures cool even throughout the "dog days" of August. In recent years our August and September visitors had exceptional fishing with both flies and lures. Many fishermen released 60 and some cases upwards of 80 trout a day! So while many anglers who fish elsewhere have put their trout fishing gear away by July, our guests continue to enjoy a summer-long pursuit of them. Our lake also offers an attractive alternative to mid to late summer Salmon anglers who have been confronted with diminishing returns and river closures in recent years.
Our camp site is located approximately 26 Miles (43 kilometres) "as the crow flies" east-northeast of the Village of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick on private forest land. We have an exclusive lease with the landowner on Island Lake's fishing rights-meaning the only other persons you see out on the water will be the people in your party. This lake has been under lease for over 45 years with our family since 1986. Camps are open to a maximum of twelve anglers per group, six being the minimum to secure a three-day booking with exclusive access for your group. (for example-if you check in on a Monday afternoon, your trip runs until noon on Thursday- 2 "half days" and two full days). Smaller groups may be be accepted, depending on availability, with the understanding you will have to share some facilities and the lake with others. Fishing season commences on May 15 and is divided into 3 day blocks through to season's end on September 15.
Trolling and casting are both commonly applied fishing techniques here, with either flies or artificial lures. Effective 2023 we no longer allow live bait, including worms. Fly fishing produces very well here. We do ask that our guests fish with either barbless hooks or pinch the barbs down to ensure minimal injury to fish you release. Fish in the 1 to 2 pound range are common with a few trout each summer approaching 3 pounds or more. We require that anglers retain a maximum of 5 Brook Trout in total per 3 day stay. This bag limit is strictly adhered to to ensure the long-term viability and unique angling experience we provide at Island Lake .We don't intend to let Island Lake be known as another "fished out" lake and ask that our clients also be stewards in this objective.
We maintain a reliable fleet of boats and motors available for use by our clients. These consist of 12 and 14 foot aluminum and fibreglass-hulled boats equipped with 5 horsepower outboards. We also provide personal floatation devices (PFDs) .We encourage all persons to wear these when out on the lake. Potential clients should also take note we provide unlimited fuel -unlike many other outfitters who restrict usage or add surcharges. A more detailed list regarding services provided is available on our fishing package overview page.
If you're searching for a place with quality Brook Trout fishing, with scenic and quiet surroundings where the only sound breaking the silence of the night is the call of a loon or perhaps a moose splashing about in search of a midnight meal, then Island Lake is the place for you. Whether you're searching for a place to reminisce with old friends, or place for the family and extended family to go "just to get away" for a few days, we've proudly served all types of groups-corporate, governmental, associations and anything else you can imagine. In over 35 years of outfitting outdoors persons from all over the world and all walks of life, we've built an excellent reputation and look forward to providing our services to you. Come and experience the fishing for our wild, native Brook Trout with exclusive access, without the exclusive costs. If you've ever wondered "if there was such a place", you've found it.
