Lac Simon in Capitale-Nationale: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Capitale-Nationale, Quebec. It stands 171 metres above sea level. The water covers around 1.31 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Around 6.3 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. It ranks high for size among our Capitale-Nationale listings. Nearest place of any size is Saint-Raymond, 15 km away. Saint-Marc-des-Carrières follows at 24 km, then Saint-Ubalde at 24 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Simon

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Capitale-Nationale, recorded fish include lake sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon and longnose sucker. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The near bank of Lac Simon is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -14°C in January to roughly 18°C in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Lac Simon fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The nearest car park we can see is 820 m out, so expect a walk with your gear. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Petit lac Angelique at 1.5 km is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Lac Simon for certain.