Lac de la Paix in Lanaudière: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac de la Paix sits within Lanaudière in Quebec. Taiga runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to about 7 hectares — small enough to read in one session. It sits higher than most water we list in Quebec. The closest town, Manawan, is 29 km distant. Saint-Louis-de-Terrebonne is the closest city, 150 km away. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Lac de la Paix

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. 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. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Lac de la Paix fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 16°C, while January sits near -16°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It holds true on Lac de la Paix more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Lac de la Brebis at 0.5 km is the nearest alternative. For Lac de la Paix in particular, ask before you travel.