Fishing at Lac a la Croix, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac a la Croix stands in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec. This is mixed forest country. Some 94 km away sits Val-d'Or, the nearest settlement. It is 246 km to Gatineau, the nearest city. Water in the same corner: LacMarnix about 1.3 km, Lac Urciers out at 2 km, Lac Berrieux about 2 km, Lac Pedoncule out at 2.1 km and Lac Nota about 2.5 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac a la Croix

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Abitibi-Témiscamingue: northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Lac a la Croix the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -15°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Time your trip to Lac a la Croix by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try LacMarnix, 1.3 km away. Check the position on Lac a la Croix before loading the car.