Lac Artix Fishing in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  The Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean entry here is Lac Artix, in Quebec. Country round the bank runs to spruce and muskeg. At roughly 4 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Supplies mean a trip to Leblanc, 78 km off. Then Normandin, 102 km, and Albanel, 107 km. If this one is busy: Lac Sabran just 1.4 km, Lac Marquette at about 1.7 km, Lac Cambrai just 2.3 km, Lac Duverger at about 2.5 km and Lac Isenay just 2.7 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Artix

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean records list northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Lac Artix the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 16°C and January at -18°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac Artix.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. 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. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Lac Sabran is 1.4 km distant. Rules at Lac Artix are worth checking on the day.