Lac Retire, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lac Retire lies in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. The land about it is taiga. The town to know is Normandin, 75 km out. After that come Albanel at 77 km and Dolbeau-Mistassini at 92 km. Near neighbours: Lac Mifaget within 1.3 km, Lac Ridechot at 2.1 km, Lac en Dentelle within 2.7 km, Lac Gauron at 3 km and Lac du Grillon within 3.5 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lac Retire

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean records list northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Anyone new to Lac Retire should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -19°C and July at about 16°C, the water has a wide range to work through. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Retire.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Lac Mifaget is 1.3 km off. Rules at Lac Retire are worth checking on the day.