Fishing at Lac Butterfly, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Set in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, this is Lac Butterfly. The ground round it is rolling bush. The water covers some 30 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 2.9 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. For supplies, Val-d'Or is 106 km out. The nearest city of size is Gatineau, 234 km away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Butterfly

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Abitibi-Témiscamingue records list northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Lac Butterfly a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 17°C and January near -16°C on the long-run figures. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Lac Butterfly the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Lac Gondreville, 1.4 km out. Check the current arrangement for Lac Butterfly.