Lac Jim in Outaouais: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Jim lies within the bounds of Outaouais, Quebec. It sits in lake country bush country. The water measures roughly 3 hectares, so nothing here is far from anything else. On size it sits at the modest end of our Outaouais list. Some 13 km away sits Wakefield, the nearest settlement. Val-des-Monts is 21 km away, with Cantley at 25 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lac Jim

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Across Outaouais, recorded fish include pumpkinseed, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rainbow smelt and Iowa darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Lac Jim that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 19°C and January at -13°C. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at early December. 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 Jim.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. 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. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Lac de la Punaise, 0.6 km away. Check the current arrangement for Lac Jim.