Lac De Vanchy, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, is where Lac De Vanchy sits. It lies 359 metres above sea level. With some 30 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The bank runs about 3.7 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean list. The town to know is Normandin, 62 km out. For a city, Saguenay is 179 km off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac De Vanchy

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean records list northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Lac De Vanchy gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about -18°C. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan any trip to Lac De Vanchy around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Lac des Castors is 1.4 km off. Confirm before you fish Lac De Vanchy.