Fishing at Lac Saint-Thomas: species, seasons, techniques

The private lake at Chalet Lac Saint-Thomas is a well-kept secret for fishing enthusiasts. No crowds, no motors, no fishing pressure. Just a lake shared between guests that regularly delivers great catches. Here's what you need to know.

The private lake: a preserved ecosystem

Our private lake is about 3 hectares and entirely surrounded by private forest. No motorboats have access, which keeps the water clear and preserves fish populations. Catches are reliable: almost all our guests report fish during their stay.

To get there: a 1.2 km forest trail from the cottage. The walk is part of the experience — you arrive at the lake calmer than when you left. Rowboat and canoe are provided with your stay.

Species present

Northern Pike (Esox lucius)

The lake's headline species. Adult pike generally measure between 50 and 70 cm, with some larger specimens reported over the years. They hunt by sight in shallow areas, particularly early morning and late evening.

Recommended techniques:

• Casting lures with spoons (Mepps, Williams) or jerkbaits
• Live bait fishing with shiners or live perch
• Fly fishing with streamers for more experienced anglers

Pike like to hide near weed beds and structures (stumps, submerged branches). Cast toward the shore and retrieve slowly back to the boat.

Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)

Perch are abundant and especially loved by families with children — they bite easily and often deliver a guaranteed first catch for a young angler. Average size: 18-25 cm.

Recommended techniques:

• Worms on a small hook (#6 or #8) with a bobber
• Small colored jigs (chartreuse, white, yellow)
• Small Mepps spoons #0 or #1

Look for schools in moderately deep water (3-5 meters). Once you find the school, fishing is often non-stop.

Best times and seasons

Spring (mid-May to June)

The best season for big pike. After spawning, they're hungry and hunt aggressively in shallow waters. Count on early morning sessions (5-9 AM) and late-day sessions (6-9 PM).

Summer (July-August)

Fish retreat deeper when the water warms up. Fishing remains very good early morning and evening. Kids particularly enjoy perch sessions in moderately deep areas.

Fall (September-October)

An underrated season. Pike start feeding actively again to build reserves before winter. Fall colors add an incomparable charm to outings.

Winter (ice fishing)

The lake freezes completely in January and February. If you bring your auger and shanty, you have exclusive access to ice fishing — no neighboring shanties around, just you and the snow-covered forest. Ice fishing mainly targets perch and sometimes pike on live bait.

Permits and regulations

A few rules to respect:

• Catch limit: per current regulations (check sepaq.com)
• Catch and release: encouraged for large breeding pike (60+ cm)
• No motors on the lake (rowboat and canoe only)
• No litter — take back your broken lines and cans

What to bring (and what to leave at home)

Bring

• Your rod and tackle box (nothing is provided at the cottage)
• Your valid fishing permit
• Life jacket (a must for the rowboat — not provided)
• Sunscreen and hat (the sun on water is stronger than you think)
• Bug spray (blackflies in June, mosquitoes in July)
• Water bottle and snacks

Leave at home

• Electric or gas motors (not allowed on the lake)
• Commercial fishing nets
• Huge coolers — fishing here is sport, not commercial

The stories you'll tell

Beyond the catches, it's the experience that lasts. Our guests often write to us after their stay to share a photo of their child holding their first perch, or a big pike that surprised them.

"My 6-year-old son caught his first perch off the dock at 7:30 AM. He talked about it for two months after we got home. That's what stays with you."

The lake isn't huge — you can row around it in under an hour. But that's exactly what makes it special: it's a human-scale lake, in a private setting, where success comes without competing with other anglers. That's still rare in Quebec.