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

• Overview

  Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, is where Lac du Martinet sits. It sits at 615 metres above sea level. It covers about 9 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. There is roughly 1.4 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It sits higher than most water we list in Quebec. Chute-aux-Outardes is the closest town at 189 km. Hauterive is 191 km away, with Betsiamites at 192 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Martinet

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Lac du Martinet the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 14°C and January near -21°C. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid May. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Lac du Martinet runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lac de la Souris sits 0.8 km off and takes the overflow. For Lac du Martinet in particular, ask before you travel.