Fishing at Lac Gastonguay, Nord-du-Québec, Quebec

• Overview

  Set in Nord-du-Québec, Quebec, this is Lac Gastonguay. The setting is boreal forest on every side. Surface area is around 29 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge runs 3.6 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Our Nord-du-Québec list holds plenty of bigger water. Chibougamau is the closest place, 13 km off. Further out sit Chapais (35 km) and Mistissini (77 km). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Gastonguay

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Nord-du-Québec include Arctic charr, brook trout, lake trout, lake whitefish and cisco. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Fish Lac Gastonguay where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -19°C in January and 16°C in July. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. The lid tends to go about early May and return around mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac Gastonguay.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Lac Deborah, 4.7 km away. Check the position at Lac Gastonguay before loading the car.