Lac Crodeau near Saint-Michel-des-Saints: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Crodeau falls inside Lanaudière. It lies 508 metres above sea level. The water covers some 14 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 1.6 km in total. Compared with other Quebec water on our list, it sits high. The town to know is Saint-Michel-des-Saints, 27 km out. After that come Mandeville at 53 km and Saint-Gabriel at 59 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac Crodeau

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Lanaudière cover pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and brook trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Take Lac Crodeau a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 17°C and January about -15°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan any trip to Lac Crodeau around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Lac des Ecureuils is 1.3 km distant. For Lac Crodeau, the notice at the access point is the final word.