Fishing at Lac du Cavreau, Outaouais, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac du Cavreau sits in Outaouais, out in Quebec. The surface lies 357 metres up. It measures some 1.04 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. Some 11 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. On our Outaouais list it sits near the top for size. Deep River sits 75 km from the bank. Then Chalk River, 84 km, and Petawawa, 98 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Cavreau

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name pumpkinseed, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Anyone new to Lac du Cavreau should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -15°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac du Cavreau.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Lac Sainte-Marie at 4.3 km is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Lac du Cavreau for certain.