Lac Barren Fishing near Manawan, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Barren falls in Lanaudière, part of Quebec. The water sits 390 metres up. Surface area runs to about 8 hectares — small enough to read in one session. Manawan at 22 km is the nearest place to stop. Ferme-Neuve follows at 83 km, then Saint-Michel-des-Saints at 84 km. Close by you also have: Lac Rothon at 2.2 km, Lac Simiol a shade over 3.7 km, Lac Hump at 3.7 km, Lac Owl a shade over 3.9 km and Lac Gooseneck at 4.3 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Barren

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Lanaudière include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and brook trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Take Lac Barren a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 17°C and January near -16°C. The season is measured in weeks rather than months. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. That is the shape of the year on Lac Barren.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lac Rothon at 2.2 km is the sensible second choice. Treat access at Lac Barren as something to verify.