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

• Overview

  Out in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, sits Lac Araignee. The country round it is northern bush from end to end. Compared with other Quebec water on our list, it sits high. You are 27 km from Saint-Fulgence. Further out sit La Baie (34 km) and Saint-Honoré (37 km). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Araignee

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name 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. Treat Lac Araignee as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 15°C; by January the average is down near -18°C. The season is measured in weeks rather than months. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid May and starts locking again about early November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Lac Araignee by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Lac Reed at 1 km is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Lac Araignee in what we hold.