Lac Saint-Pierre Fishing Guide, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Saint-Pierre falls in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, part of Quebec. Height above sea level is 415 metres. It covers about 6 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The closest town, Deep River, is 92 km away. Gatineau is the closest city, 210 km away. Also worth knowing: 1.9 km out stands Lac Racicot, Lac Archambault after 2.7 km, 3.5 km out stands Lac Kane, Lac Membre after 3.6 km and 3.9 km out stands Lac Coupal. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Saint-Pierre

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Abitibi-Témiscamingue cover northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Lac Saint-Pierre light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 17°C, while January sits near -16°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Lac Saint-Pierre runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Lac Racicot, 1.9 km away. Ask locally about Lac Saint-Pierre if anything is unclear.