Fishing at Lac Deslier, Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Deslier belongs to Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean. It lies 546 metres above sea level. About 10 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The bank runs about 1.8 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Compared with other Quebec water on our list, it sits high. For supplies, Normandin is 38 km out. The big place round here is Saguenay, 148 km distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Deslier

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Take Lac Deslier a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 16°C; by January the average is down near -18°C. Little of the calendar is open water, so timing counts for everything. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Lac Deslier runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lac Nolan, 0.8 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Lac Deslier if anything is unclear.