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

• Overview

  Quebec holds Lac du Crapaud, in Lanaudière. It lies 423 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 2 hectares — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Lanaudière are larger. Some 31 km away sits Saint-Michel-des-Saints, the nearest settlement. The big place round here is Trois-Rivières, 82 km distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Crapaud

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Lanaudière, recorded fish include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and brook trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Lac du Crapaud a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 17°C, the coldest about -15°C. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Expect Lac du Crapaud to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Lac aux Tetards is 0.5 km off. Check the position at Lac du Crapaud before loading the car.