Lac Ernest in Lanaudière: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Ernest is a Lanaudière water, in Quebec. It sits in mixed forest. At roughly 9 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Start from Saint-Michel-des-Saints, 27 km down the road. The nearest city of size is Trois-Rivières, 88 km away. Others worth noting: Baie Martin 0.7 km off, Lac du Merisier 1.5 km, Lac Vert 1.7 km off, Lac Boisvert 1.7 km and Lac a la Couleuvre 1.8 km off. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Ernest

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Lanaudière list pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and brook trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Work Lac Ernest in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -15°C to 17°C. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Ernest.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Baie Martin is 0.7 km distant. Check the position at Lac Ernest before loading the car.