Fishing at Lac de Courval, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac de Courval falls in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, part of Quebec. Elevation runs to 279 metres. About 1.52 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. Shoreline length is close to 5.4 km, and each section fishes a little differently. It ranks high for size among our Abitibi-Témiscamingue listings. Some 9.3 km away sits Macamic, the nearest settlement. La Sarre is 15 km and Rouyn-Noranda 66 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac de Courval

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. Lac de Courval gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 17°C in July and bottom out at -19°C in January. This far north the hard season runs and runs. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. On average, early May opens the water and mid November closes it again. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Lac de Courval that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Recorded parking is 1.4 km off, far enough to travel light. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lac Piton at 2 km is the sensible second choice. Signs at Lac de Courval carry more weight than any list.