Lac Rene-Richard in Nord-du-Québec: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Nord-du-Québec, Quebec. The setting is northern bush on every side. At 3.16 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. There is roughly 17 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Compared with other Quebec water on our list, it sits high. Some 199 km away sits Godefroy, the nearest settlement. For a city, Saguenay is 436 km off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Rene-Richard

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Nord-du-Québec cover Arctic charr, brook trout and lake trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The near bank of Lac Rene-Richard is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 13°C and January near -23°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. Average temperatures cross freezing around late May in spring and again near late October in autumn. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. That is the shape of the year on Lac Rene-Richard.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Lac Conflans sits 6 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Lac Rene-Richard before loading the car.