Lac Emard in Laurentides: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Emard falls in Laurentides, part of Quebec. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. Surface area is around 18 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The whole outline is near 2.1 km, and most of it is walkable. The closest town, Ferme-Neuve, is 50 km away. Gatineau sits 180 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Emard

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Laurentides include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Fish Lac Emard to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 17°C and January near -16°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Emard.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Lac du Coup de Fusil at 1.2 km is the nearest alternative. For Lac Emard, the notice at the access point is the final word.