Fishing at Lac Borley, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Borley lies within the bounds of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec. It sits in spruce and muskeg country. Roughly 1.26 sq km of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. At about 11 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. On our Abitibi-Témiscamingue list it sits near the top for size. Senneterre lies 61 km from the water. The big place round here is Gatineau, 294 km distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Borley

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Abitibi-Témiscamingue include northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Lac Borley the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -18°C to 16°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac Borley.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Lac Cobra is 1.8 km off. Signs at Lac Borley carry more weight than any list.