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

• Overview

  Lac Arvida is one of the Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean listings for Quebec. The bank is 439 metres above sea level. With some 21 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The bank runs about 2.6 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Leblanc at 79 km is the nearest place to stop. Chapais follows at 107 km, then Chibougamau at 109 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Lac Arvida

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean include northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Lac Arvida the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 16°C in July and bottoms out near -18°C in January. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Arvida.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lac Clety at 1.1 km is the sensible second choice. For Lac Arvida in particular, ask before you travel.