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

• Overview

  Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, is where Lac Gerard sits. This is taiga country. Normandin is the closest town at 58 km. For a city, Saguenay is 173 km off. Near neighbours: Lac Beland out at 0.6 km, Lac Fradette after 1.6 km, Lac Beaucaire out at 2.6 km, Lac de la Peine after 2.9 km and Lac Miserable out at 3.2 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Gerard

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean cover northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Lac Gerard the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -19°C to 16°C. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Gerard.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Lac Beland is 0.6 km distant. Rules at Lac Gerard are worth checking on the day.