Fishing Lac Pioui in Côte-Nord, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Pioui falls inside Côte-Nord. The country round it is taiga from end to end. Small at around 2 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Côte-Nord standards. The nearest place of any size is Sept-Îles, 14 km away. Maliotenam is 24 km and Port-Cartier 40 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Pioui

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Côte-Nord records list logperch among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Take Lac Pioui a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -16°C to 16°C. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. The season between ice runs from about early May to mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac Pioui.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Perch take small lures and worms fished near the bottom close to structure. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Lac Ghyslain, 0.5 km away. Rules at Lac Pioui are worth checking on the day.