Fishing at Lac Asikwaw, Nord-du-Québec, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Asikwaw is set in Nord-du-Québec, Quebec. It lies 402 metres above sea level. At 2.95 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. The shoreline runs about 23 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Some 378 km away sits Chisasibi, the nearest settlement. Further out sit Mistissini (434 km) and Fermont (435 km). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lac Asikwaw

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Nord-du-Québec include Arctic charr, brook trout, lake trout, lake whitefish and cisco. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Lac Asikwaw a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -24°C to 14°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. The lid usually goes in late May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On average, late May opens the water and early November closes it again. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to Lac Asikwaw by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Lac Fillye sits 16 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Lac Asikwaw before loading the car.