Lac a l'Orignal Fishing near Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac a l'Orignal is a Lanaudière water, Quebec side. This is mixed forest country. Some 36 km away sits Saint-Michel-des-Saints, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Manawan at 36 km and Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm at 75 km. Round about: Lac Murray at 2.6 km, Lac Veuillette a touch under 3.1 km, Lac de l'Araignee at 3.6 km, Lac Picette a touch under 3.6 km and Lac D'Elvert at 3.7 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac a l'Orignal

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Lanaudière cover pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and brook trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Lac a l'Orignal that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 17°C and January near -16°C on the long-run figures. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. Average temperatures cross freezing around early May in spring and again near mid November in autumn. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac a l'Orignal.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Lac Murray at 2.6 km is the sensible second choice. For Lac a l'Orignal, the notice at the access point is the final word.