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

• Overview

  Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, is where Lac Chatou sits. It lies 390 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 2 hectares — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean are larger. Leblanc sits 96 km from the bank. The nearest city of size is Saguenay, 219 km away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Chatou

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean include northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. The shape of Lac Chatou rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -18°C in January to roughly 16°C in July. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. The season on Lac Chatou rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Lac Angos at 0.4 km is the nearest alternative. Nothing on Lac Chatou should be assumed from this page alone.