Lac Hawkesbury Fishing in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Hawkesbury lies in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec. Beyond the shoreline you have lake country bush. At some 3.50 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The shoreline runs to about 30 km, far more than one trip can cover. On our Abitibi-Témiscamingue list it sits near the top for size. The nearest place of any size is Val-d'Or, 86 km away. The nearest city of size is Gatineau, 259 km away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lac Hawkesbury

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Abitibi-Témiscamingue include northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Lac Hawkesbury responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 17°C and January near -15°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Time your trip to Lac Hawkesbury by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A campsite is mapped about 540 m away, which makes an early start easier. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Lac Ognolles at 1 km is the nearest alternative. The position on Lac Hawkesbury is worth confirming on the day.