Lac du Cran Plat in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Quebec holds Lac du Cran Plat, in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean. The surface lies 495 metres up. The water covers some 20 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 2.8 km on foot. For a base, Albanel sits 101 km out. Dolbeau-Mistassini lies 103 km off, Pont Rouge another 104 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Cran Plat

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean: 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. On Lac du Cran Plat the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 16°C and January at -20°C. This far north the hard season runs and runs. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. From about early May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Lac du Cran Plat the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Lac Tshinusheu is 5 km off. Confirm access to Lac du Cran Plat locally before you travel.