Lac a l'Hirondelle Fishing near Manawan, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac a l'Hirondelle is set in Lanaudière, Quebec. It lies 528 metres above sea level. At about 15 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The full circuit measures close to 3.3 km on foot. Compared with other Quebec water on our list, it sits high. Manawan lies 33 km from the water. Beyond it, Saint-Michel-des-Saints at 54 km and Rivière-Rouge at 63 km. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac a l'Hirondelle

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Lanaudière: pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and brook trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Lac a l'Hirondelle light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 17°C and January near -16°C. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Lac a l'Hirondelle more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lac Louce, 0.7 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Lac a l'Hirondelle locally before you travel.