Lac des Pistes d'Odeur Fishing Guide, Outaouais, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Outaouais, Quebec, sits Lac des Pistes d'Odeur. The water sits 393 metres up. Small at around 8 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The bank runs about 1.8 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Ferme-Neuve lies 101 km from the water. Then Saint-Boniface, 105 km, and Mont-Laurier, 113 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Pistes d'Odeur

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Outaouais records list pumpkinseed, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and rainbow smelt among the fish reported. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The near bank of Lac des Pistes d'Odeur is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 17°C, while January sits near -17°C. Water stays cold even at the height of the year. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. On average, early May opens the water and mid November closes it again. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Lac des Pistes d'Odeur the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. 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. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Lac Poire at 1.5 km is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Lac des Pistes d'Odeur as something to verify.