Fishing at Lac des Algues, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac des Algues sits within Abitibi-Témiscamingue in Quebec. The surface lies 360 metres up. Around 10 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. About 1.6 km of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. You are 108 km from Saint-Boniface. It is 222 km to Gatineau, the nearest city. Close neighbours run: Lac Reuland 4 km away, Lac Verney 4 km, Lac Alizari 4.2 km away, Lac Mate 4.6 km and Lac Lippe 4.6 km away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Algues

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Open biodiversity records for Abitibi-Témiscamingue list northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Lac des Algues a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 17°C and January about -17°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That is the shape of the year on Lac des Algues.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Lac Reuland at 4 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Lac des Algues before loading the car.