Lac Keeling in Outaouais: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Keeling is set in Outaouais, Quebec. Mixed forest runs right down to the water. At roughly 7 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Start from Saint-Boniface, 42 km down the road. It is 157 km to Gatineau, the nearest city. Round about: Lac Irone just 0.6 km, Lac Joug at 0.7 km, Lac Dattier just 0.9 km, Lac Andabre at 0.9 km and Lac Bal just 1.8 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lac Keeling

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Outaouais include pumpkinseed, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rainbow smelt and Iowa darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read Lac Keeling for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 18°C in July and bottom out at -16°C in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Keeling.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Lac Irone at 0.6 km is the nearest alternative. Rules at Lac Keeling are worth checking on the day.