Lac a Howard near Shawville: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Outaouais in Quebec is where Lac a Howard sits. It sits at 179 metres above sea level. It is low-lying compared with other Quebec water we list. Some 12 km away sits Shawville, the nearest settlement. The big place round here is Gatineau, 63 km distant. Close by you also have: Lac a Donoghue a shade over 0.9 km, Lac a Daly after 2 km, Lac McCord a shade over 2.2 km, Lac Toad after 2.3 km and Lac a Lang a shade over 2.4 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac a Howard

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Outaouais cover pumpkinseed, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Lac a Howard the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 19°C in July and bottom out at -13°C in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about early December in an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Lac a Howard fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Lac a Donoghue, 0.9 km out. What applies at Lac a Howard may have changed since it was mapped.