Lac des Mille Iles Fishing Guide, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac des Mille Iles lies in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in Quebec. The surface lies 435 metres up. Roughly 96 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The shoreline runs about 9.3 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Senneterre at 107 km is the nearest place to stop. After that come Leblanc at 115 km and Lebel-sur-Quévillon at 135 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Mille Iles

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Abitibi-Témiscamingue records list northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Lac des Mille Iles light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 16°C on average, January about -18°C. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. The open-water window runs from around early May to about mid November in an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac des Mille Iles.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Lac Tip at 1.7 km is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Lac des Mille Iles for certain.