Lac Noir Fishing near Saint-Fulgence, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Noir stands in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. The surface lies 672 metres up. At 2 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean are larger. For supplies, Saint-Fulgence is 62 km out. For a city, Saguenay is 74 km off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Noir

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean list 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 Noir gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -19°C to 15°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. Look for the thaw near mid May; the fishing lifts straight after. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Noir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Lac Pierre at 0.3 km is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Lac Noir locally before you travel.