Lac Melar Fishing in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, sits Lac Melar. It sits at 374 metres above sea level. Around 25 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. The bank runs about 4.7 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Head to Val-d'Or, 65 km away, for anything you forgot. Senneterre follows at 67 km, then Barraute at 82 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Melar

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Open biodiversity records for Abitibi-Témiscamingue list northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Work Lac Melar in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 17°C on average, January about -17°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Melar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Lac Discal sits 1 km off and takes the overflow. For Lac Melar, the notice at the access point is the final word.