Lac Sheehan Fishing in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Sheehan belongs to Abitibi-Témiscamingue. It sits in rolling bush country. Around 40 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. Saint-Isidore lies 48 km from the water. Then Ville-Marie, 58 km, and Saint-Bruno-de-Guigues, 59 km. Also on the doorstep: 1.4 km out stands Lac Ponderosa, Lac de la Chaloupe 1.4 km, 1.8 km out stands Lac Croteau, Lac du Tetard 1.9 km and 2 km out stands Lac Coniagas. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Sheehan

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Abitibi-Témiscamingue cover northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The shape of Lac Sheehan decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 18°C and January near -16°C on the long-run figures. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Time your trip to Lac Sheehan by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is a jetty 140 m off, worth knowing on a busy day. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Lac Ponderosa sits 1.4 km off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Lac Sheehan for certain.