Lac de l'Epinette Rouge, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac de l'Epinette Rouge belongs to Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean. The ground round it is spruce and muskeg. At some 3.09 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The edge covers about 14 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. It ranks high for size among our Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean listings. For a base, Pont Rouge sits 165 km out. Mistissini is 167 km and Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc 167 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac de l'Epinette Rouge

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean cover 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. Read Lac de l'Epinette Rouge for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -20°C in January and 15°C in July. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. Count the season from break-up, usually mid May. The water is typically free of ice between mid May and early November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan any trip to Lac de l'Epinette Rouge around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Lac Balise, 2.6 km out. Treat Lac de l'Epinette Rouge as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.