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

• Overview

  Lac Benoit sits in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, out in Quebec. The ground round it is taiga. It covers about 10.41 sq km, which means weather matters as much as tactics. The outline measures near 52 km, so a boat opens up water the bank never reaches. It ranks high for size among our Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean listings. Godefroy lies 210 km from the water. After that come Mistissini at 229 km and Chibougamau at 290 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Benoit

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean include northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Lac Benoit gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -21°C and July at about 15°C, the water has a wide range to work through. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid May and starts locking again about early November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Expect Lac Benoit to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Lac Natipi, 20 km out. What applies at Lac Benoit may have changed since it was mapped.