Lac du Cardinal Fishing near Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac du Cardinal is one of the Mauricie listings for Quebec. It sits in mixed forest. The far bank is a conversation away, so keep low and quiet. Our Mauricie list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Saint-Michel-des-Saints, is 52 km distant. The nearest city of size is Trois-Rivières, 96 km away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Cardinal

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. 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. Survey and observation records for Mauricie include northern pike, brook trout, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Lac du Cardinal the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 17°C in July and bottom out at -15°C in January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan any trip to Lac du Cardinal around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. The water borders Zec du Chapeau-de-Paille, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Lac Boivin, 1 km out. Check the position at Lac du Cardinal before loading the car.