Fishing at Lac Boudin, Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Boudin is listed under Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. The bank gives way to boreal forest. About 1.80 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. There is roughly 24 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. It ranks high for size among our Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean listings. Chute-aux-Outardes is the closest town at 188 km. Further out sit Hauterive (189 km) and Betsiamites (190 km). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Boudin

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, recorded fish include northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Lac Boudin where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 14°C and January reads -21°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. The lid usually goes in mid May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Climate averages put the opening at about mid May and the closing near early November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It holds true on Lac Boudin more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Lac Crochet at 1.8 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Lac Boudin locally before you travel.