Lac La Gauchetiere Fishing Guide, Nord-du-Québec, Quebec

• Overview

  Nord-du-Québec, Quebec, is where Lac La Gauchetiere sits. It stands 264 metres above sea level. About 3.14 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The shoreline runs about 9.2 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Matagami lies 37 km from the water. For a city, Greater Sudbury is 428 km off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lac La Gauchetiere

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Nord-du-Québec include Arctic charr, brook trout and lake trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Lac La Gauchetiere decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -19°C in January to roughly 16°C in July. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. At Lac La Gauchetiere the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Lac Dumas is 2.1 km off. Rules at Lac La Gauchetiere are worth checking on the day.