Fishing Lac Bixley in Laurentides, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Laurentides, Quebec, sits Lac Bixley. It sits in lake country bush. At about 36 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The bank runs about 3.1 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Laurentides list. The closest town, Brownsburg-Chatham, is 12 km distant. The big place round here is Saint-Louis-de-Terrebonne, 43 km distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Bixley

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Laurentides cover pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and brook trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Read Lac Bixley for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -13°C to 19°C. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about early December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Lac Bixley the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Lac Roger at 1 km is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Lac Bixley if anything is unclear.