Fishing at Lac Pacane, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  This water sits in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec. The ground round it is lake country bush. With some 12 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The whole outline is near 2.2 km, and most of it is walkable. Val-d'Or is the closest town at 105 km. Gatineau is the closest city, 232 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Pacane

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Abitibi-Témiscamingue include northern pike, yellow perch and walleye. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The near bank of Lac Pacane is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -16°C in January to roughly 17°C in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac Pacane.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Lac Gaiac is 0.8 km distant. For Lac Pacane in particular, ask before you travel.