Lac Knife, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lac Knife stands in Mauricie, Quebec. Taiga runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to about 7 hectares — small enough to read in one session. For a base, Weymontachie sits 51 km out. The big place round here is Trois-Rivières, 151 km distant. Nearby, in order: Lac Shaw 1.6 km off, Lac Nabob at about 1.6 km, Lac Escarmouche 2.2 km off, Lac Crimson at about 2.2 km and Lac Desert 2.8 km off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Knife

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name northern pike, brook trout and walleye. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Lac Knife the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -16°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. On average, early May opens the water and mid November closes it again. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Anyone fishing Lac Knife regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Lac Shaw sits 1.6 km off and takes the overflow. For Lac Knife, the notice at the access point is the final word.