Fishing Lac Leslie in Lanaudière, Quebec

• Overview

  Look for Lac Leslie in the Lanaudière part of Quebec. The country here is lake country bush. Small at around 6 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Nearest town is Saint-Michel-des-Saints, 37 km off. Saint-Louis-de-Terrebonne is the closest city, 115 km away. Water in the same corner: Lac Parnot roughly 1.3 km, Lac Arfons some 1.3 km off, Lac Goncourt roughly 1.6 km, Lac la Passe some 1.7 km off and Lac Odelin roughly 2.1 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lac Leslie

  Our records hold no depth for this water. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Lanaudière include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass and brook trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Lac Leslie repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -15°C to 17°C. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac Leslie.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Lac Parnot at 1.3 km is the sensible second choice. For Lac Leslie, the notice at the access point is the final word.