Reservoir Laforge 1 in Nord-du-Québec: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Reservoir Laforge 1 in Nord-du-Québec, Quebec. The setting is boreal forest on every side. Around 1047.72 sq km of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. The water reaches back into a network of arms, each one worth a session of its own. Few waters listed in Nord-du-Québec are bigger. Fermont lies 376 km from the water. Labrador City lies 378 km off, Wabush another 383 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Reservoir Laforge 1

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Nord-du-Québec cover Arctic charr, brook trout and lake trout. The county list is broader than any single water. At this water the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 13°C and January reads -24°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early June. Break-up near early June, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish this water.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. It is an impounded water, so levels are managed and can shift through the year. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lac Mukash at 23 km is the sensible second choice. For this water in particular, ask before you travel.