Lac Pike Fishing in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Pike is one of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue waters in Quebec. It lies 292 metres above sea level. The water covers some 35 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. A shoreline of some 2.8 km keeps the choices simple. Supplies mean a trip to Notre-Dame-du-Lac, 48 km off. It is 189 km to Greater Sudbury, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Pike

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Abitibi-Témiscamingue include northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Lac Pike where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -15°C. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Lac Pike runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A platform or pier sits within 1.2 km. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Lac Dugal is 1.2 km off. Confirm access to Lac Pike locally before you travel.