Fishing Lac Francois-Savard in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Francois-Savard sits in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, out in Quebec. The surroundings are northern bush. It runs to roughly 10 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Bank access stretches around 2.0 km in total. It sits higher than most water we list in Quebec. The nearest place of any size is Dolbeau-Mistassini, 110 km away. Albanel is 110 km away, with Pont Rouge at 110 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Francois-Savard

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean 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. Work Lac Francois-Savard in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 15°C; by January the average is down near -20°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Once it clears, about mid May, the fishing comes on quickly. Expect the water usable from around mid May until roughly early November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. At Lac Francois-Savard the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Lac du Vicaire is 1.2 km distant. The position on Lac Francois-Savard is worth confirming on the day.