Lac des Gnaphales, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Lac des Gnaphales in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. The surface lies 407 metres up. The water covers some 10 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 1.9 km of margin, front to back. Chibougamau lies 84 km from the water. Normandin is 96 km away, with Albanel at 98 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Gnaphales

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Lac des Gnaphales to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 16°C; by January the average is down near -19°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. In an average year the thaw lands around early May and the freeze near mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac des Gnaphales.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Lac Vaison at 2.3 km is the sensible second choice. What applies at Lac des Gnaphales may have changed since it was mapped.