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

• Overview

  Lac du Marais lies within the bounds of Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. What surrounds it is boreal forest. At 8 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Quebec listings. Chute-aux-Outardes sits 196 km from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Saguenay, 215 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Marais

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean records list northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The shape of Lac du Marais decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -21°C in January to roughly 14°C in July. Winter runs most of the calendar, and everything worth doing happens in the gap. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid May. From about mid May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Lac du Marais by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Lac du Relais at 0.8 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Lac du Marais is worth confirming on the day.