Lac Rita Fishing near Labrecque, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Rita falls inside Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean. The bank is 340 metres above sea level. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. Our Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean list holds plenty of bigger water. Supplies mean a trip to Labrecque, 68 km off. The big place round here is Saguenay, 87 km distant. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Rita

  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. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean: northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Lac Rita responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -18°C to 16°C. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. That shapes the year on Lac Rita.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Lac Nicole is 1 km distant. Check the current arrangement for Lac Rita.