Petit lac Saint-Nicolas in Côte-Nord: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Côte-Nord entry here is Petit lac Saint-Nicolas, in Quebec. The ground round it is mixed forest. With some 64 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge covers about 7.0 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Quebec listings. For a base, Baie-Comeau sits 32 km out. Saguenay is the closest city, 263 km away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Petit lac Saint-Nicolas

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Côte-Nord: logperch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Petit lac Saint-Nicolas the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -14°C to 16°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. From about early May to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Petit lac Saint-Nicolas runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the perch, a small jig tipped with worm, dropped along the edges, is hard to beat. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Lac du Premier Camp is 1.6 km off. Signs at Petit lac Saint-Nicolas carry more weight than any list.