Lac Jean-Marie Fishing Guide, Côte-Nord, Quebec

• Overview

  The Côte-Nord entry here is Lac Jean-Marie, in Quebec. Height above sea level is 143 metres. At 1.07 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. There is roughly 6.1 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. It lies lower than most water we list in Quebec. The town to know is Baie-Comeau, 42 km out. Further out sit Hauterive (51 km) and Matane (60 km). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Jean-Marie

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name logperch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Lac Jean-Marie is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about -14°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Lac Jean-Marie rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Perch take small lures and worms fished near the bottom close to structure. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Lac Pierre, 1.7 km out. Treat Lac Jean-Marie as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.