Fishing at Petit lac Lisette, Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, sits Petit lac Lisette. The bank is 643 metres above sea level. At about 41 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. A shoreline of some 4.7 km keeps the choices simple. Size puts it in the front rank of our Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean list. Chute-aux-Outardes sits 196 km from here and is the nearest stop. Beyond it, Hauterive at 198 km and Betsiamites at 199 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Petit lac Lisette

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean include northern pike, Atlantic salmon and lake whitefish. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Petit lac Lisette light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 14°C, with January the cold end at about -21°C. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid May. The water is typically free of ice between mid May and early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish Petit lac Lisette.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping records no facilities at all near this 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. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Lac a Junior, 1.9 km out. Signs at Petit lac Lisette carry more weight than any list.