Lac Montesson Fishing Guide, Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, sits Lac Montesson. The ground around here is spruce and muskeg. Small at around 4 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean are larger. Normandin at 38 km is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Saguenay, 154 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Montesson

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The near bank of Lac Montesson is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -18°C to 16°C. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On Lac Montesson the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Lac Ocarina, 0.5 km away. For Lac Montesson, the notice at the access point is the final word.