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

• Overview

  Out in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, sits Lac Sabord. The bank gives way to rolling bush. A pocket of water where every cast reaches cover. Most waters listed here for Abitibi-Témiscamingue are larger. The closest town, Deep River, is 104 km away. Gatineau is the closest city, 230 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Sabord

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Abitibi-Témiscamingue include northern pike, yellow perch and walleye. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read Lac Sabord for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 18°C in July and bottom out at -15°C in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Time your trip to Lac Sabord by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Lac Baignolet at 1.7 km is the sensible second choice. Treat Lac Sabord as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.