Fishing Lac du Bouleau in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, is where Lac du Bouleau sits. The surroundings are northern bush. At 10 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. For a base, Normandin sits 44 km out. Beyond it, Saint-Félicien at 45 km and Albanel at 52 km. Within a short run: Lac Bergeron about 0.8 km, Lac Maurice 1.2 km away, Lac Janine about 1.3 km, Lac Levis 1.4 km away and Lac de la Balsamine about 1.6 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Bouleau

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. 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. Read Lac du Bouleau for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about -18°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The lid tends to go about early May and return around mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. It holds true on Lac du Bouleau more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Lac Bergeron, 0.8 km away. The position on Lac du Bouleau is worth confirming on the day.