Lac Valmond in Nord-du-Québec: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Valmond falls in Nord-du-Québec, part of Quebec. Taiga runs right down to the water. At roughly 8 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Nord-du-Québec. The nearest place of any size is Matagami, 55 km away. Macamic is 120 km and La Sarre 121 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac Valmond

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name Arctic charr, brook trout, lake trout, lake whitefish and cisco. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Lac Valmond the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -19°C in January up to 16°C in July. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Lac Valmond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Lac Sainte-Helene at 8.7 km is the nearest alternative. What applies at Lac Valmond may have changed since it was mapped.