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

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Canardeau belongs to Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean. The bank is 445 metres above sea level. Small at around 5 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Pont Rouge lies 91 km from the water. After that come Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc at 92 km and Dolbeau-Mistassini at 95 km. Close neighbours run: Lac Crassane (0.6 km), Lac du Mistral lies 0.9 km on, Lac Lune (0.9 km), Lac de la Meduse lies 1.1 km on and Lac du Bolet (1.2 km). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Canardeau

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. 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. Records held for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean cover 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. On Lac Canardeau a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -19°C to 16°C. The season is measured in weeks rather than months. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Time your trip to Lac Canardeau by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. 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 stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Lac Crassane is 0.6 km off. Confirm access to Lac Canardeau locally before you travel.