Fishing at Lac Phoque, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Set in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, this is Lac Phoque. The bank is 347 metres above sea level. It covers about 4 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our Abitibi-Témiscamingue list. Val-d'Or is the closest town at 89 km. Malartic follows at 100 km, then Senneterre at 124 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lac Phoque

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Abitibi-Témiscamingue: northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and brown bullhead. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Lac Phoque the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -15°C to 17°C. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. On average, early May opens the water and late November closes it again. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan around that when you fish Lac Phoque.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Lac du Faon sits 0.7 km off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Lac Phoque should be assumed from this page alone.