Fishing at Lac Dutine, Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Within Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, you have Lac Dutine. It stands 390 metres above sea level. With some 25 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 3.5 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The town to know is Chibougamau, 90 km out. The big place round here is Saguenay, 207 km distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Dutine

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. 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. On Lac Dutine the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about -19°C. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. The lid usually goes in early May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It holds true on Lac Dutine more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Lac Angely at 1.2 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Lac Dutine before loading the car.