Fishing at Lac Jousse, Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, is where Lac Jousse sits. The ground around here is spruce and muskeg. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Quebec listings. 80 km away sits Leblanc, the nearest town. The big place round here is Saguenay, 193 km distant. Near neighbours include: Lac Lancelot sits 0.3 km out, Lac Altair within 1.3 km, Lac Hecate sits 1.6 km out, Lac Domprel within 2.1 km and Lac Egerie sits 2.3 km out. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac Jousse

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, recorded fish include 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. Lac Jousse fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 16°C in July and bottom out at -18°C in January. This far north the hard season runs and runs. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about early November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Time your trip to Lac Jousse by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. 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. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Lac Lancelot at 0.3 km is the nearest alternative. Rules at Lac Jousse are worth checking on the day.