Lac du Grand Cheval Blanc, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lac du Grand Cheval Blanc is one of the Outaouais listings for Quebec. The country round it is rolling bush from end to end. It measures about 82 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The perimeter runs near 9.5 km, so plan the walk before you start. On our Outaouais list it sits near the top for size. Ferme-Neuve lies 75 km from the water. Gatineau sits 192 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Grand Cheval Blanc

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Outaouais records list pumpkinseed, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rainbow smelt and Iowa darter among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Take Lac du Grand Cheval Blanc a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 17°C and January near -17°C on the long-run figures. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Lac du Grand Cheval Blanc follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Lac Oxygene, 0.6 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Lac du Grand Cheval Blanc are worth checking on the day.