Lac a Johnny, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean end of Quebec holds Lac a Johnny. It lies 227 metres above sea level. At 1.05 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. Shoreline length is close to 5.7 km, and each section fishes a little differently. Size puts it in the front rank of our Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean list. Albanel is the closest town at 27 km. Normandin is 32 km and Dolbeau-Mistassini 36 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac a Johnny

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean include northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Lac a Johnny responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 17°C, while January sits near -20°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Lac a Johnny rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Grand lac a Truite, 1.4 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Lac a Johnny carry more weight than any list.