Fishing at Lac du Bourgeon, Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean in Quebec is where Lac du Bourgeon sits. The setting is taiga on every side. At 2 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean are larger. Start from Saint-Honoré, 66 km down the road. Further out sit Saint-Fulgence (71 km) and Saint-Ambroise (74 km). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Bourgeon

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Open biodiversity records for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean list northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Read Lac du Bourgeon before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 15°C, while January sits near -19°C. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid May. Averages place the thaw at mid May and the freeze at early November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Lac du Bourgeon more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Look for a notice board at the entrance. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Lac de la Brimbale, 0.8 km out. Confirm before you fish Lac du Bourgeon.