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

• Overview

  Lac North lies in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in Quebec. It stands 290 metres above sea level. The water covers some 11 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 2.1 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. For a base, Saint-Isidore sits 57 km out. Greater Sudbury is the closest city, 198 km away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Lac North

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Public occurrence data for Abitibi-Témiscamingue names northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Lac North the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 18°C, while January sits near -15°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac North.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Lac B.-L., 1.5 km away. Ask locally about Lac North if anything is unclear.