Lac Lionel in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Lionel is a Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean water, in Quebec. It sits in northern bush country. At roughly 6 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Roberval is the closest town at 38 km. The big place round here is Saguenay, 107 km distant. Within a short drive: Lac Boily within 0.7 km, Lac Dore lies 1.1 km on, Lac Lachance within 1.6 km, Lac en l'Air lies 1.9 km on and Lac Ro-Ber-Tom within 2 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Lionel

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Open biodiversity records for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean list northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Lac Lionel the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 17°C and January near -17°C. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On Lac Lionel that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lac Boily sits 0.7 km off and takes the overflow. What applies at Lac Lionel may have changed since it was mapped.