Lac a Charles in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac a Charles is one of the Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean listings for Quebec. It lies 150 metres above sea level. It is low-lying compared with other Quebec water we list. Labrecque at 11 km is the nearest place to stop. After that come Saint-Ambroise at 11 km and Alma at 13 km. Near neighbours include: Lac a Louis at about 0.5 km, Lac Trepanier a shade over 1.2 km, Lac Laberge at about 2 km, Lac a la Mine a shade over 2.7 km and Lac Labonte at about 3 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lac a Charles

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean records list northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Lac a Charles the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -18°C in January up to 18°C in July. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. 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. The season on Lac a Charles follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Lac a Louis is 0.5 km off. Signs at Lac a Charles carry more weight than any list.