Lac Gazelle in Laurentides: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Laurentides, Quebec, sits Lac Gazelle. It stands 382 metres above sea level. It covers about 6 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Ferme-Neuve at 70 km is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Gatineau is 187 km off. Close neighbours run: Lac Bouton 1.5 km off, Lac de la Fumee sits 1.9 km out, Lac Couleuvre 2 km off, Lac du Tapis sits 2.4 km out and Lac du Bourgeon 2.5 km off. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lac Gazelle

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Laurentides records list pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout and rock bass among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Lac Gazelle before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -17°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Gazelle.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Lac Bouton sits 1.5 km off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Lac Gazelle before loading the car.