Lac des Macres in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Quebec holds Lac des Macres, in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean. The surroundings are boreal forest. At roughly 6 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Some 96 km away sits Normandin, the nearest settlement. It is 213 km to Saguenay, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Macres

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean cover 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. On Lac des Macres the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 16°C and January near -18°C on the long-run figures. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac des Macres.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Lac Vermand sits 1.1 km off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Lac des Macres.