Lac a l'Ours Fishing in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, sits Lac a l'Ours. The setting is boreal forest. Around 70 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. The perimeter runs near 8.7 km, so plan the walk before you start. Few waters listed in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean are bigger. 19 km away sits Saint-Ambroise, the nearest town. Saguenay sits 37 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac a l'Ours

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean include northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Read Lac a l'Ours before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 17°C and January near -18°C on the long-run figures. The ice season is long here and the open one short. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. That shapes the year on Lac a l'Ours.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Etang Fortin at 1.2 km is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Lac a l'Ours before loading the car.