Lac Issou in Nord-du-Québec: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Nord-du-Québec end of Quebec holds Lac Issou. It sits at 411 metres above sea level. Small at around 6 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Nord-du-Québec standards. Chibougamau sits 66 km from the bank. Then Chapais, 91 km, and Mistissini, 98 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Issou

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. 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 Nord-du-Québec include Arctic charr, brook trout, lake trout and lake whitefish. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Read Lac Issou before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 16°C and January about -19°C. This far north the hard season runs and runs. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Issou.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Lac Merfy is 1.2 km off. What applies at Lac Issou may have changed since it was mapped.