Lac Gilbert Fishing near Saint-Honoré, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Gilbert belongs to Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean. Height above sea level is 672 metres. It covers about 6 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Quebec listings. 48 km away sits Saint-Honoré, the nearest town. After that come Saint-Fulgence at 55 km and Saint-Ambroise at 55 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Gilbert

  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. Fish documented in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean include northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Lac Gilbert gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 15°C at the top of summer and -19°C at the bottom of winter. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid May. On average, mid May opens the water and early November closes it again. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Time your trip to Lac Gilbert by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Lac Gagne, 0.6 km out. Nothing on Lac Gilbert should be assumed from this page alone.