Lac Mathieu Fishing near Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Mathieu lies in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. It lies 195 metres above sea level. The water covers around 2.05 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Few waters listed in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean are bigger. 34 km away sits Dolbeau-Mistassini, the nearest town. Saguenay is the closest city, 120 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Mathieu

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean names 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. Read Lac Mathieu for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 17°C and January near -19°C on the long-run figures. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. The open-water window runs from around early May to about mid November in an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Anyone fishing Lac Mathieu regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Lac du Vison, 1.4 km out. The position on Lac Mathieu is worth confirming on the day.