Lac des Artistes Fishing near Lac-Lapierre, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac des Artistes belongs to Lanaudière. It sits at 170 metres above sea level. At roughly 3 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Lanaudière standards. Nearest place of any size is Lac-Lapierre, 7.4 km away. Saint-Louis-de-Terrebonne sits 27 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Artistes

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Lanaudière include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At Lac des Artistes light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 19°C for July and -13°C for January. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The season between ice runs from about late April to early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac des Artistes.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. You can park 400 m away and walk in from there. Toilets are 1.4 km away, which matters on a long session. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lac Dufour sits 0.3 km off and takes the overflow. Rules at Lac des Artistes are worth checking on the day.