Fishing Lac Emard in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Emard lies within the bounds of Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. Elevation runs to 412 metres. Around 13 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. The bank runs about 1.6 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Chibougamau at 91 km is the nearest place to stop. Chapais lies 92 km off, Leblanc another 96 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Emard

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, recorded fish include northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Lac Emard the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 16°C at the top of summer and -19°C at the bottom of winter. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Emard.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Lac Tarzan at 1.5 km is the sensible second choice. For Lac Emard in particular, ask before you travel.