Lac Kelly in Abitibi-Témiscamingue: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, sits Lac Kelly. The country here is lake country bush. At 1.62 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. The perimeter runs near 17 km, so plan the walk before you start. Size puts it in the front rank of our Abitibi-Témiscamingue list. Saint-Isidore sits 36 km from the bank. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 189 km distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Kelly

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged across Abitibi-Témiscamingue include northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Lac Kelly responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 18°C; the cold one sits at -16°C. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Kelly.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A pier or jetty stands 390 m away, which helps on a crowded bank. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Lac Allard is 1.9 km distant. Check the position at Lac Kelly before loading the car.