Lac des Ecartes in Abitibi-Témiscamingue: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac des Ecartes stands in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec. Everything around it is northern bush. Supplies mean a trip to Senneterre, 99 km off. It is 262 km to Gatineau, the nearest city. In the same area: 1.5 km away is Lac Juliet, Lac des Monstres a touch under 1.5 km, 1.6 km away is Lac Delisle, Lac Ingles a touch under 2.1 km and 2.7 km away is Lac Roy. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Ecartes

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Abitibi-Témiscamingue, recorded fish include northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Lac des Ecartes repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 17°C, with January the cold end at about -18°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Lac des Ecartes by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Lac Juliet at 1.5 km is the nearest alternative. Nothing on Lac des Ecartes should be assumed from this page alone.