Fishing at Lac Despinassy, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, is where Lac Despinassy sits. Height above sea level is 296 metres. The water covers around 6.40 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The edge covers about 12 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. It is among the larger waters listed here for Abitibi-Témiscamingue. The closest town, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, is 39 km away. The nearest city of size is Greater Sudbury, 375 km away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Lac Despinassy

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Abitibi-Témiscamingue include northern pike, yellow perch and walleye. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Lac Despinassy repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 16°C and January about -18°C. This far north the hard season runs and runs. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. On Lac Despinassy the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Lac Ducros at 9.3 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Lac Despinassy before loading the car.