Fishing at Lac Crochu, Côte-Nord, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Crochu lies in Côte-Nord, Quebec. It stands 588 metres above sea level. Roughly 29 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. At about 6.0 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It is high ground by Quebec standards. The nearest place of any size is Forestville, 99 km away. The big place round here is Saguenay, 111 km distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Crochu

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Côte-Nord list logperch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Lac Crochu the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 16°C and January reads -19°C. This far north the hard season runs and runs. 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. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Lac Crochu follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the perch, a small jig tipped with worm, dropped along the edges, is hard to beat. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Lac Delia, 0.8 km away. The position on Lac Crochu is worth confirming on the day.