Lac Plante Fishing near Chibougamau, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Plante falls in Nord-du-Québec, part of Quebec. Spruce and muskeg runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to about 10 hectares — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Nord-du-Québec are larger. For a base, Chibougamau sits 27 km out. Saguenay is the closest city, 265 km away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lac Plante

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Nord-du-Québec cover Arctic charr, brook trout and lake trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Lac Plante the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 16°C and January reads -20°C. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. The lid usually goes in early May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Open water usually runs from early May until about early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It holds true on Lac Plante more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lac Monette at 0.6 km is the sensible second choice. For Lac Plante in particular, ask before you travel.