Fishing Lac de la Martre in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Look for Lac de la Martre in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue part of Quebec. Elevation runs to 422 metres. Surface area runs to about 6 hectares — small enough to read in one session. Leblanc lies 120 km from the water. Gatineau is the closest city, 254 km away. If this one is busy: Lac du Cannibale at 0.4 km, Lac de l'Antilope the better part of 1.3 km, Lac Chum at 1.5 km, Lac Karl the better part of 1.6 km and Lac Paul at 2.3 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lac de la Martre

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name northern pike, yellow perch and walleye. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Lac de la Martre a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 16°C and January reads -18°C. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. The lid usually goes in early May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish Lac de la Martre.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Lac du Cannibale, 0.4 km out. Confirm access to Lac de la Martre locally before you travel.