Lac Clermont in Côte-Nord: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Clermont falls in Côte-Nord, part of Quebec. The surface lies 493 metres up. The water covers some 84 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The margin runs to about 6.0 km in total. Forestville is the closest town at 104 km. The nearest city of size is Saguenay, 121 km away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lac Clermont

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Côte-Nord records list logperch among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At Lac Clermont light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 15°C and January near -19°C. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid May and starts locking again about early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Lac Clermont runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Perch take small lures and worms fished near the bottom close to structure. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Lac Jean-Paul, 0.9 km away. Where Lac Clermont is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.