Lac Lefrancois Fishing in Nord-du-Québec, Quebec

• Overview

  Nord-du-Québec, Quebec, is where Lac Lefrancois sits. The surface lies 507 metres up. Roughly 1.44 sq km of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. The shoreline runs about 12 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. The closest town, Kuujjuaq, is 284 km distant. Labrador City follows at 353 km, then Wabush at 359 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lac Lefrancois

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Nord-du-Québec cover Arctic charr, brook trout, lake trout, lake whitefish and cisco. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Take Lac Lefrancois a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 12°C at the top of summer and -26°C at the bottom of winter. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Once it clears, about early June, the fishing comes on quickly. Average temperatures cross freezing around early June in spring and again near late October in autumn. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Lac Lefrancois follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. 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. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Lac Kapischitapiskwau at 9.2 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Lac Lefrancois before loading the car.