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

• Overview

  Out in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, sits Lac du Recueil. It lies 711 metres above sea level. The water covers some 11 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 2.0 km on foot. Compared with other Quebec water on our list, it sits high. Saint-Fulgence sits 38 km from the bank. La Baie lies 44 km off, Saint-Honoré another 49 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Recueil

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean records list northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish 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 Recueil decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 15°C, while January sits near -18°C. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid May. Break-up sits around mid May on average, with the water closing again about early November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac du Recueil.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Lac Fondu, 0.7 km away, makes the obvious fallback. What applies at Lac du Recueil may have changed since it was mapped.