Lac Botquin, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. Height above sea level is 369 metres. It measures about 17 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 2.1 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The nearest town is Normandin, 63 km away. It is 180 km to Saguenay, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Botquin

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean records list northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Lac Botquin fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -18°C and July at about 16°C, the water has a wide range to work through. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That is the shape of the year on Lac Botquin.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Lac des Castors is 1.5 km off. For Lac Botquin in particular, ask before you travel.