Lac de la Branche Nord Fishing Guide, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac de la Branche Nord falls inside Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Tidal water begins 24 km from here. At 8 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Compared with other Quebec water on our list, it sits high. For supplies, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is 49 km out. The nearest city of size is Saguenay, 388 km away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac de la Branche Nord

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name American eel, striped bass and alewife. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Lac de la Branche Nord where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 15°C and January reads -15°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid May. From about mid May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Lac de la Branche Nord.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Lac des Pics is 1.4 km distant. Ask locally about Lac de la Branche Nord if anything is unclear.