Lac Gerard in Côte-Nord: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Quebec holds Lac Gerard, in Côte-Nord. The surface lies 493 metres up. Roughly 85 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Shoreline length is close to 5.8 km, and each section fishes a little differently. Head to Saint-Honoré, 98 km away, for anything you forgot. The nearest city of size is Saguenay, 108 km away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac Gerard

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Côte-Nord cover logperch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Lac Gerard a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -19°C in January up to 15°C in July. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid May. The water is typically free of ice between mid May and early November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. That shapes the year on Lac Gerard.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Perch take small lures and worms fished near the bottom close to structure. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lac de l'Aloyau sits 1.4 km off and takes the overflow. For Lac Gerard, the notice at the access point is the final word.