Lac Bois Franc in Laurentides: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Laurentides end of Quebec holds Lac Bois Franc. Elevation runs to 403 metres. It measures about 14 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 1.6 km, small enough to learn in a day. The nearest town is Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard, 0.9 km away. Beyond it, Morin-Heights at 10 km and Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts at 11 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Bois Franc

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and brook trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Lac Bois Franc that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 18°C in July and bottoms out near -14°C in January. 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. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Time your trip to Lac Bois Franc by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Public data records a pier about 1.1 km out. Somewhere to sit and eat is 1.1 km out. Public toilets are recorded roughly 940 m off. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Lac a Foin, 0.7 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing on Lac Bois Franc should be assumed from this page alone.