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

• Overview

  Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, is where Lac du Nord sits. The surface lies 459 metres up. At about 20 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The full circuit measures close to 2.2 km on foot. Supplies mean a trip to Leblanc, 73 km off. Further out sit Normandin (110 km) and Weymontachie (112 km). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Nord

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name 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. Take Lac du Nord a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -18°C in January and 16°C in July. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Lac du Nord the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Lac Chantourne, 1.2 km out. Check the position at Lac du Nord before loading the car.