Fishing at Lac Cross, Outaouais, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Cross belongs to Outaouais, Quebec. It sits at 383 metres above sea level. It covers about 4 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Outaouais standards. The closest town, Saint-Boniface, is 85 km distant. Further out sit Maniwaki (96 km) and Ferme-Neuve (103 km). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac Cross

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. 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. Outaouais records list pumpkinseed, yellow perch and smallmouth bass among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Lac Cross the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -17°C in January to roughly 17°C in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Lac Cross follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Lac Valmure at 1.5 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Lac Cross before loading the car.