Lac Charlie Fishing Guide, Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Charlie is set in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. Elevation runs to 637 metres. Surface area is around 53 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Some 11 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It is among the larger waters listed here for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean. Chute-aux-Outardes is the closest town at 190 km. Further out sit Betsiamites (191 km) and Hauterive (192 km). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Charlie

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean include northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Lac Charlie light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 14°C, the coldest about -21°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. After mid May the shallows warm and the fish move up. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid May and starts locking again about early November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. That shapes the year on Lac Charlie.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Lac Crochet, 2.5 km out. Check the position at Lac Charlie before loading the car.