Lac Francois Fishing in Laurentides, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Francois is one of the Laurentides listings for Quebec. This is boreal forest ground. The nearest place of any size is Rivière-Rouge, 40 km away. Then Ferme-Neuve, 44 km, and Mont-Laurier, 53 km. Alternatives close at hand: Lac Perras at about 0.9 km, Lac Jules the better part of 2.3 km, Lac Adrien at about 2.6 km, Lac Douard the better part of 2.7 km and Lac Linda at about 3 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lac Francois

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Laurentides include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and brook trout. The county list is broader than any single water. On Lac Francois that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 17°C; the cold one sits at -16°C. A short, intense season is the rule this far north. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish Lac Francois.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Lac Perras at 0.9 km is the nearest alternative. Signs at Lac Francois carry more weight than any list.