Fishing at Petit lac Black, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  The Abitibi-Témiscamingue end of Quebec holds Petit lac Black. Mixed forest runs right down to the water. Surface area is around 59 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The shoreline runs about 6.9 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our Abitibi-Témiscamingue list it sits near the top for size. Nearest place of any size is Notre-Dame-du-Lac, 74 km away. Témiscaming lies 78 km off, Mattawa another 79 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Petit lac Black

  We hold no depth figure for this one. 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. Abitibi-Témiscamingue records list northern pike, yellow perch and walleye among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Petit lac Black gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 18°C and January near -15°C. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Petit lac Black.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Lac Black at 2.1 km is the sensible second choice. For Petit lac Black, the notice at the access point is the final word.