Fishing at Lac Yolande, Nord-du-Québec, Quebec

• Overview

  The Nord-du-Québec entry here is Lac Yolande, in Quebec. What surrounds it is northern bush. Roughly 1.29 sq km of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. The shoreline runs about 14 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. For supplies, Waswanipi is 49 km out. After that come Lebel-sur-Quévillon at 80 km and Chapais at 96 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Yolande

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Nord-du-Québec: Arctic charr, brook trout and lake trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Lac Yolande the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -19°C in January up to 16°C in July. Little of the calendar is open water, so timing counts for everything. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Lac Yolande runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. 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. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Lac Nicobi is 4.2 km distant. Check the position at Lac Yolande before loading the car.