Lac des Bois in Capitale-Nationale: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac des Bois lies in Capitale-Nationale, in Quebec. It sits at 374 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 9 hectares — small enough to read in one session. You are 18 km from Laurentides. Sainte-Foy sits 67 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Others close at hand: Lac Bob within 1.6 km, Lac du Coin 1.7 km away, Lac Marecot within 1.8 km, Lac a l'Orignal 2.1 km away and Lac Huard within 2.2 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Bois

  Depth figures are not published for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Capitale-Nationale records list lake sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, longnose sucker, sauger and channel catfish among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Lac des Bois the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 17°C in July and bottom out at -15°C in January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. Climate figures give an open season running early May to late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to Lac des Bois by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Lac Bob, 1.6 km out. Confirm access to Lac des Bois locally before you travel.