Lac des Monticules Fishing in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac des Monticules sits in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, out in Quebec. Elevation runs to 387 metres. It covers about 10 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Start from Chibougamau, 96 km down the road. The big place round here is Saguenay, 219 km distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Monticules

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name 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. Anyone new to Lac des Monticules should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 16°C at the top of summer and -18°C at the bottom of winter. The ice season is long here and the open one short. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On Lac des Monticules the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Lac Dessaint, 1.1 km out. Confirm before you fish Lac des Monticules.