Fishing Lac Rouge in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, sits Lac Rouge. It sits in northern bush country. Surface area runs to about 3 hectares — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean list. Saint-Félicien sits 44 km from the bank. It is 128 km to Saguenay, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Rouge

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Lac Rouge the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 16°C and January reads -18°C. Little of the calendar is open water, so timing counts for everything. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Lac Rouge by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Lac Galdei sits 0.7 km off and takes the overflow. Signs at Lac Rouge carry more weight than any list.