Lac Gilbert Fishing Guide, Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Look for Lac Gilbert in the Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean part of Quebec. This is spruce and muskeg country. This is a pocket water of some 2 hectares, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean are larger. The closest town, Saint-Félicien, is 38 km away. After that come Saint-Prime at 42 km and Roberval at 47 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Gilbert

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. 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. Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean records list northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. The near bank of Lac Gilbert is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -18°C to 16°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. In an average year the thaw lands around early May and the freeze near mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Lac Gilbert rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Lac Normand at 0.6 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Lac Gilbert.