Fishing at Lac Padoue, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, is where Lac Padoue sits. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. At some 4.83 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Some 23 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It ranks high for size among our Abitibi-Témiscamingue listings. Nearest town is Val-d'Or, 90 km off. Malartic is 96 km away, with Notre-Dame-du-Lac at 104 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Padoue

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Abitibi-Témiscamingue cover northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Take Lac Padoue a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 17°C, with January the cold end at about -16°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on Lac Padoue follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Lac Albieux at 1.7 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Lac Padoue before loading the car.