Lac Bonenfant in Nord-du-Québec: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Quebec holds Lac Bonenfant, in Nord-du-Québec. It lies 233 metres above sea level. The water covers around 1.63 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The edge covers about 15 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. 235 km away sits Kuujjuaq, the nearest town. Puvirnituq is 316 km and Inukjuak 347 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Bonenfant

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Nord-du-Québec include Arctic charr, brook trout, lake trout, lake whitefish and cisco. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Lac Bonenfant the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 12°C in July and bottoms out near -24°C in January. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Count the season from break-up, usually early June. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early June and starts locking again about late October. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to Lac Bonenfant by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Lac La Potherie, 13 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Lac Bonenfant before loading the car.