Fishing at Lac Saint-May, Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Saint-May belongs to Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean. It sits at 383 metres above sea level. About 2 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean are larger. For supplies, Normandin is 68 km out. Saguenay is the closest city, 185 km away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Saint-May

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean records list northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Lac Saint-May light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -19°C in January and 16°C in July. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Lac Saint-May.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lac de la Faim sits 1.1 km off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Lac Saint-May if anything is unclear.