Lac Prince in Côte-Nord: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Prince is a Côte-Nord water, in Quebec. The ground around here is northern bush. Around 28 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. The full circuit measures close to 3.1 km on foot. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Quebec listings. The nearest place of any size is Port-Cartier, 85 km away. For a city, Saguenay is 365 km off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Prince

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Côte-Nord cover logperch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Lac Prince a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 14°C at the top of summer and -19°C at the bottom of winter. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid May until roughly early November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It holds true on Lac Prince more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Perch take small lures and worms fished near the bottom close to structure. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Lac Vassard at 0.8 km is the nearest alternative. Rules at Lac Prince are worth checking on the day.