Lac Ferland in Lanaudière: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Lanaudière, Lac Ferland is a Quebec water. It sits in northern bush country. The water covers some 82 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The perimeter runs near 7.3 km, so plan the walk before you start. Size puts it in the front rank of our Lanaudière list. The closest town, Saint-Michel-des-Saints, is 34 km distant. The big place round here is Trois-Rivières, 109 km distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Ferland

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Lanaudière include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Lac Ferland that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 17°C; the cold one sits at -16°C. This far north the hard season runs and runs. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. At Lac Ferland the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Lac Poele at 1 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Lac Ferland before loading the car.