Lac Barriere in Laurentides: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Barriere lies in Laurentides, in Quebec. The water sits 246 metres up. You are 11 km from Rivière-Rouge. It is 110 km to Orléans, the nearest city. Nearby alternatives: Lac Lafleche 2.3 km, 2.3 km out stands Le Violon, Petit lac Nominingue 2.5 km, 2.7 km out stands Lac Bourget and Petit lac Labelle 2.9 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Barriere

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Laurentides include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout and rock bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Lac Barriere fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -14°C in January to roughly 18°C in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Lac Barriere rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A boat ramp sits about 690 m from the water. The nearest mapped parking is 670 m away, so the last stretch is on foot. There is camping recorded roughly 1.4 km off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Lac Lafleche is 2.3 km off. Check the position at Lac Barriere before loading the car.