Fishing at Lac de l'Alize, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  The Abitibi-Témiscamingue end of Quebec holds Lac de l'Alize. The bank is 358 metres above sea level. Val-d'Or lies 102 km from the water. Gatineau sits 237 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Nearby alternatives: Lac Leone after 0.7 km, Lac Tille out at 0.9 km, Lac Peliade after 0.9 km, Lac Valentin out at 1 km and Lac du Sequoia after 1.5 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac de l'Alize

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Abitibi-Témiscamingue, recorded fish include northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Lac de l'Alize that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -17°C in January up to 17°C in July. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. The lid tends to go about early May and return around late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Lac de l'Alize runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Lac Leone is 0.7 km distant. Confirm access to Lac de l'Alize locally before you travel.