Fishing at Lac Howie, Laurentides, Quebec

• Overview

  Set in Laurentides, Quebec, this is Lac Howie. The water sits 343 metres up. Surface area is around 10 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Around 1.4 km of margin, front to back. Start from Ferme-Neuve, 59 km down the road. The big place round here is Gatineau, 192 km distant. Nearby, in order: Lac Chasse at 2 km, Lac Marco 2.6 km off, Lac Bull at 3.1 km, Lac Naiomi 4.5 km off and Lac Dawson at 4.8 km. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac Howie

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Laurentides: pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and brook trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Lac Howie the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 17°C in July and bottoms out near -16°C in January. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Open water usually runs from early May until about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac Howie.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. 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. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Lac Chasse, 2 km out. Check the position at Lac Howie before loading the car.