Lac des Cedres Fishing near Mandeville, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac des Cedres is a Lanaudière water, Quebec side. The ground around here is pine and birch. Mandeville is the closest place, 17 km off. Further out sit Saint-Gabriel (19 km) and Saint-Jean-de-Matha (21 km). Nearby alternatives: Petit lac des Cedres at 0.4 km, Lac Desroches a shade over 0.6 km, Lac Rond at 0.6 km, Lac Comtois a shade over 0.6 km and Petit lac Cedras at 0.7 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Cedres

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Lanaudière include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Lac des Cedres a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -14°C to 18°C. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Lac des Cedres fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. 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 phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Petit lac des Cedres at 0.4 km is the sensible second choice. Rules at Lac des Cedres are worth checking on the day.