Lac des Sables Fishing near Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm, Quebec

• Overview

  The Lanaudière end of Quebec holds Lac des Sables. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. This is sizeable water at about 1.48 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. The shoreline runs about 7.8 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Few waters listed in Lanaudière are bigger. Start from Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm, 18 km down the road. For a city, Saint-Louis-de-Terrebonne is 93 km off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Sables

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Lanaudière cover pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The shape of Lac des Sables decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -15°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac des Sables.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A boat ramp sits 1.1 km away, so trailered boats can get on. Parking sits 1.2 km out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Lac Gaetan sits 1.3 km off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Lac des Sables should be assumed from this page alone.