Lac des Cerfs in Lanaudière: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lanaudière in Quebec is where Lac des Cerfs sits. Beyond the shoreline you have pine and birch. It covers about 6 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The town to know is Chertsey, 11 km out. The big place round here is Saint-Louis-de-Terrebonne, 52 km distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Cerfs

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Lanaudière cover pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Lac des Cerfs the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 18°C, while January sits near -14°C. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to Lac des Cerfs by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. You can leave the car about 510 m from the water. 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. Lac des Cygnes sits 0.4 km off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Lac des Cerfs for certain.