Lac Gilles Fishing in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  The Abitibi-Témiscamingue entry here is Lac Gilles, in Quebec. The water sits 464 metres up. This is a pocket water of some 10 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Around 1.5 km of margin, front to back. Head to Leblanc, 97 km away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, Senneterre at 123 km and Manawan at 136 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lac Gilles

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Abitibi-Témiscamingue, recorded fish include northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Read Lac Gilles for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 16°C and January reads -18°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan any trip to Lac Gilles around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Lac Aldrich at 1.5 km is the sensible second choice. For Lac Gilles in particular, ask before you travel.