Lac Caron near Mont-Laurier: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Caron falls inside Laurentides. It lies 220 metres above sea level. At 6 hectares it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Ground here is low by Quebec standards. Nearest place of any size is Mont-Laurier, 27 km away. The big place round here is Gatineau, 94 km distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Caron

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Laurentides list pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Lac Caron the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 18°C, the coldest about -14°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Time your trip to Lac Caron by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Lac a Bonami at 0.8 km is the nearest alternative. Treat Lac Caron as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.