Lac du Portage Fishing in Lanaudière, Quebec

• Overview

  The Lanaudière entry here is Lac du Portage, in Quebec. It stands 591 metres above sea level. Around 14 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. It is high ground by Quebec standards. Manawan sits 23 km from the bank. For a city, Trois-Rivières is 150 km off. Not far off: Troisieme lac Nord roughly 1 km, Lac Florence (1.2 km), Lac de la Passe roughly 1.3 km, Lac Bob (1.3 km) and Lac Perdu roughly 1.4 km. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac du Portage

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Lanaudière records list pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At Lac du Portage light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 17°C and January about -16°C. The season is measured in weeks rather than months. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. The season between ice runs from about early May to mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. The season on Lac du Portage follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Troisieme lac Nord, 1 km out. Confirm before you fish Lac du Portage.