Fishing Lac du Carassin in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac du Carassin falls inside Abitibi-Témiscamingue. The ground round it is mixed forest. At roughly 8 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. For a base, Val-d'Or sits 64 km out. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 274 km distant. Near neighbours: Lac Verseau 0.7 km away, Lac Haution at 1 km, Lac Doris 1.1 km away, Lac Ligie at 1.6 km and Lac Nevers 1.9 km away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Carassin

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Lac du Carassin gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -16°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. The water is typically free of ice between early May and late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It holds true on Lac du Carassin more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Lac Verseau is 0.7 km distant. Confirm access to Lac du Carassin locally before you travel.