Fishing at Lac Grad, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Grad lies in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in Quebec. The ground round it is northern bush. It measures about 12 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The whole outline is near 1.6 km, and most of it is walkable. The closest town, Senneterre, is 95 km away. Further out sit Val-d'Or (119 km) and Barraute (122 km). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lac Grad

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Abitibi-Témiscamingue list northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Anyone new to Lac Grad should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 17°C and January about -18°C. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Grad.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. 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. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Lac du Pendentif, 1.4 km out. Rules at Lac Grad are worth checking on the day.