Fishing Lac Erwin in Nord-du-Québec, Quebec

• Overview

  Nord-du-Québec, Quebec, is where Lac Erwin sits. It sits in boreal forest country. With some 97 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge covers about 8.3 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. Chapais lies 18 km from the water. Chibougamau follows at 29 km, then Mistissini at 95 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Erwin

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Nord-du-Québec include Arctic charr, brook trout, lake trout and lake whitefish. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Lac Erwin the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 16°C and January near -19°C on the long-run figures. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Lac Erwin rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Lac Andy, 3.7 km away. None of that is settled for Lac Erwin in what we hold.