Lac des Portes de l'Enfer Fishing Guide, Capitale-Nationale, Quebec

• Overview

  Look for Lac des Portes de l'Enfer in the Capitale-Nationale part of Quebec. It sits in mixed forest country. At roughly 4 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. You are 16 km from Saint-Marc-des-Carrières. It is 59 km to Sainte-Foy, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Portes de l'Enfer

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Capitale-Nationale records list lake sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, longnose sucker, sauger and channel catfish among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Lac des Portes de l'Enfer the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 19°C, while January sits near -14°C. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Lac des Portes de l'Enfer by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Lac Louise is 0.7 km off. For Lac des Portes de l'Enfer in particular, ask before you travel.