Lac de la Couleuvre, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Quebec holds Lac de la Couleuvre, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. This is mixed forest ground. Small at around 2 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Our Abitibi-Témiscamingue list holds plenty of bigger water. Supplies mean a trip to Mattawa, 59 km off. It is 220 km to Greater Sudbury, the nearest city. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lac de la Couleuvre

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Abitibi-Témiscamingue include northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Treat Lac de la Couleuvre as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 18°C at the top of summer and -14°C at the bottom of winter. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac de la Couleuvre.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Lac du Jonc is 1.4 km distant. Where Lac de la Couleuvre is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.