Fishing Lac Charley in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Set in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, this is Lac Charley. It stands 376 metres above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 8 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. For a base, Roberval sits 43 km out. The big place round here is Saguenay, 115 km distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Charley

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean records list northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Lac Charley the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -17°C in January to roughly 17°C in July. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. The lid tends to go about early May and return around mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac Charley.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Petit lac Vert at 0.8 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Lac Charley before loading the car.