Lac Volta in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, sits Lac Volta. The setting is boreal forest on every side. About 6 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Supplies mean a trip to Leblanc, 60 km off. Further out sit Weymontachie (92 km) and Normandin (102 km). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Volta

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, recorded fish include northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Lac Volta the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for July and -18°C for January. The ice season is long here and the open one short. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Volta.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lac Voynes sits 1.5 km off and takes the overflow. For Lac Volta in particular, ask before you travel.