Lac Blanc Fishing near Ferme-Neuve, Quebec

• Overview

  The Laurentides end of Quebec holds Lac Blanc. It lies 305 metres above sea level. About 2 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is a small entry by Laurentides standards. Ferme-Neuve is the closest place, 28 km off. Orléans is the closest city, 134 km away. Alternatives close at hand: Reservoir Kiamika (4.4 km), Lac Charlie at 4.5 km, Lac Dore (4.8 km), Lac Noe at 5 km and Lac Scobar (5.7 km). The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Blanc

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Laurentides names pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and brook trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At Lac Blanc light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -15°C in January up to 18°C in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Lac Blanc rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. You can camp 1.4 km off, which suits an early start. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Reservoir Kiamika sits 4.4 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Lac Blanc before loading the car.