Lac Dumarque in Nord-du-Québec: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Dumarque belongs to Nord-du-Québec. The surface lies 128 metres up. Around 21.30 sq km of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. Some 79 km of shoreline means conditions can differ from one end to the other. Size puts it in the front rank of our Nord-du-Québec list. Nearest town is Puvirnituq, 64 km off. Saguenay sits 1366 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Dumarque

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Nord-du-Québec include Arctic charr, brook trout, lake trout and lake whitefish. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. The shape of Lac Dumarque decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 11°C and January reads -25°C. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. Winter locks it down, and mid June brings it back. Expect the water usable from around mid June until roughly late October. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Dumarque.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Lac Tasirruarusiq is 19 km distant. Rules at Lac Dumarque are worth checking on the day.