The LaHave River is Nova Scotia's largest river and a productive Atlantic salmon and trout system. Multiple productive pools with good public access. Excellent accessibility for Nova Scotia anglers with well-established conservation program. Atlantic salmon are managed under DFO conservation rules — mandatory catch-and-release of large (multi-sea-winter) salmon applies in most areas, with any grilse retention strictly limited by zone; check current regulations before fishing.
The LaHave runs ninety-seven kilometres from its source in Annapolis County down through the woods and farmland of Nova Scotia's South Shore, bisecting Bridgewater before it opens into a long tidal estuary at LaHave and Riverport. It is a classic Atlantic-province river of dark, soft, lightly bog-stained water over a glaciated bed of rock and gravel. The salmon-bearing heart of it lies above Morgan Falls, where a fish ladder lifts the run into the upper river that produces most of the system's smolts. The fishery has been hard-pressed of late — invasive chain pickerel in the lower system prey on the smolts — but the upper river remains the stronghold. The character is steady, moderate-gradient freestone water with defined holding pools. Wading is secure on firm rock and gravel, with the usual care below the falls and weirs.
Wading: Deeper holding pools below Morgan Falls
- Mixed
- Unconfined
- Pool riffle
