Lac Gauthier in Outaouais: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Lac Gauthier in the Outaouais part of Quebec. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. Small at around 3 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Outaouais. Fort-Coulonge at 24 km is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Gatineau, 83 km distant. Round about: Lac Ellen some 1.4 km off, Lac Way just 1.7 km, Lac Gratton some 3 km off, Lac Leach just 3.2 km and Lac Lepine some 3.4 km off. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lac Gauthier

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Outaouais names pumpkinseed, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rainbow smelt and Iowa darter. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Lac Gauthier the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 19°C and January at -13°C. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Gauthier.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Lac Ellen is 1.4 km distant. Nothing here settles the position at Lac Gauthier for certain.