Lac Arthur in Outaouais: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Lac Arthur in the Outaouais part of Quebec. The bank is 223 metres above sea level. It measures about 22 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 2.8 km, small enough to learn in a day. It lies lower than most water we list in Quebec. The town to know is Saint-Raphaël, 26 km out. Maniwaki follows at 26 km, then Saint-Boniface at 29 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Arthur

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Reported across Outaouais: pumpkinseed, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rainbow smelt and Iowa darter. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Lac Arthur a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -14°C and July at about 18°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Time your trip to Lac Arthur by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Lac Flynn sits 1.2 km off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Lac Arthur as something to verify.