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

• Overview

  Lac Chikawis is a Nord-du-Québec water, in Quebec. The water sits 545 metres up. At some 2.70 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The perimeter runs near 11 km, so plan the walk before you start. It is high ground by Quebec standards. The closest town, Labrador City, is 231 km distant. The nearest city of size is Saguenay, 679 km away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Chikawis

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Nord-du-Québec names Arctic charr, brook trout, lake trout, lake whitefish and cisco. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Lac Chikawis decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 13°C in July and bottoms out near -25°C in January. The ice season is long here and the open one short. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late May. In an average year the thaw lands around late May and the freeze near late October. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It holds true on Lac Chikawis more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Lac Dablon is 5.9 km off. For Lac Chikawis in particular, ask before you travel.