Fishing at Lac de la Boussole, Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac de la Boussole belongs to Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean. The country round it is northern bush from end to end. It covers about 2 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean list. Head to Saint-Honoré, 67 km away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, Saint-Fulgence at 72 km and Saint-Ambroise at 74 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac de la Boussole

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, recorded fish include northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Lac de la Boussole the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 15°C for July and -19°C for January. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid May in spring and again near early November in autumn. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan any trip to Lac de la Boussole around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Petit lac Noir is 0.6 km distant. Confirm access to Lac de la Boussole locally before you travel.