Lacs Kaywakamaw Fishing in Nord-du-Québec, Quebec

• Overview

  The Nord-du-Québec entry here is Lacs Kaywakamaw, in Quebec. It stands 356 metres above sea level. At 17.86 sq km you are fishing a fraction of it whatever you do. The perimeter is close to 57 km, and wind can be flat in one arm and rough in the next. Few waters listed in Nord-du-Québec are bigger. Chisasibi lies 329 km from the water. Sanikiluaq follows at 344 km, then Inukjuak at 437 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lacs Kaywakamaw

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Nord-du-Québec include Arctic charr, brook trout, lake trout, lake whitefish and cisco. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Lacs Kaywakamaw gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 13°C and January about -23°C. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late May. The season between ice runs from about late May to early November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Lacs Kaywakamaw runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Lac Kakayimakuskach at 11 km is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Lacs Kaywakamaw if anything is unclear.