Lac Kelly, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lac Kelly lies in Laurentides, in Quebec. It stands 323 metres above sea level. It runs to roughly 25 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The whole outline is near 3.4 km, and most of it is walkable. The nearest town is Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard, 11 km away. The nearest city of size is Saint-Louis-de-Terrebonne, 55 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Kelly

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Laurentides, recorded fish include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Lac Kelly the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 18°C in July and bottom out at -13°C in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lac Kelly.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A pier 1.1 km from here gives a platform over deeper water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Lac a l'Ile de Pierre, 1 km away. For Lac Kelly in particular, ask before you travel.