Lac de la Sturnelle, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lac de la Sturnelle is one of the Lanaudière listings for Quebec. Height above sea level is 449 metres. It covers about 3 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our Lanaudière list. Nearest town is Manawan, 36 km off. Trois-Rivières is the closest city, 144 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac de la Sturnelle

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. 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. Public occurrence data for Lanaudière names pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and brook trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Lac de la Sturnelle to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -16°C in January to roughly 17°C in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Lac de la Sturnelle fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Lac Cache, 0.5 km out. Check the position at Lac de la Sturnelle before loading the car.