Fishing at Lac des Detours, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  This water sits in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec. The country round it is pine and birch from end to end. The water covers around 1.10 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. With 14 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. It ranks high for size among our Abitibi-Témiscamingue listings. Notre-Dame-du-Lac sits 37 km from here and is the nearest stop. Témiscaming follows at 42 km, then Saint-Isidore at 68 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Detours

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Abitibi-Témiscamingue cover northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Lac des Detours the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 18°C for July and -15°C for January. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac des Detours.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Lac Gnome, 1.4 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Lac des Detours locally before you travel.