Fishing at Lac Holacourt, Laurentides, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Holacourt sits within Laurentides in Quebec. This is taiga country. Surface area runs to about 3 hectares — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Laurentides standards. The closest town, Manawan, is 42 km distant. Rivière-Rouge follows at 54 km, then Saint-Michel-des-Saints at 56 km. Alternatives close at hand: Lac Bunel 1 km, Lac Nerignac at 1.1 km, Lac Charal 1.2 km, Lac Taupesan at 1.3 km and Lac Ondule 1.6 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lac Holacourt

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Public occurrence data for Laurentides names pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and brook trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Lac Holacourt responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 17°C, the coldest about -16°C. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Lac Holacourt runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Lac Bunel, 1 km away. Check the position at Lac Holacourt before loading the car.