Lac McQuade Fishing in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac McQuade belongs to Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean. It stands 542 metres above sea level. It measures about 11 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. A shoreline of some 2.9 km keeps the choices simple. It is high ground by Quebec standards. Head to Saint-Félicien, 49 km away, for anything you forgot. Saint-Prime is 55 km and Normandin 56 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac McQuade

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean: northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Lac McQuade to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for July and -18°C for January. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. Average temperatures cross freezing around early May in spring and again near mid November in autumn. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac McQuade.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Lac Dejadon is 1 km distant. Confirm before you fish Lac McQuade.