Lac Raisenne in Abitibi-Témiscamingue: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Abitibi-Témiscamingue in Quebec is where Lac Raisenne sits. It sits at 299 metres above sea level. It runs to roughly 76 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. There is roughly 11 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Few waters listed in Abitibi-Témiscamingue are bigger. The closest town, Notre-Dame-du-Lac, is 27 km distant. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 167 km distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Raisenne

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Abitibi-Témiscamingue include northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Lac Raisenne gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -14°C in January up to 18°C in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Lac Raisenne the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Lac Cognac, 1.6 km out. Where Lac Raisenne is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.