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

• Overview

  Look for Lac des Mouches in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec. The surroundings are lake country bush. Surface area runs to about 10 hectares — small enough to read in one session. The nearest place of any size is Val-d'Or, 83 km away. It is 260 km to Gatineau, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Mouches

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Abitibi-Témiscamingue include northern pike, yellow perch and walleye. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Lac des Mouches decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 17°C on average, January about -16°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. The season on Lac des Mouches follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Lac de l'Ourse, 0.7 km away. The position on Lac des Mouches is worth confirming on the day.