Lac Magnan Fishing near Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Magnan lies within the bounds of Laurentides, Quebec. It sits in pine and birch country. At about 11 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The nearest place of any size is Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, 8.4 km away. Val-David is 12 km and Val-Morin 16 km. Close neighbours run: Lac Arpin at about 1.3 km, Lac Leroux just 1.9 km, Lac Papineau at about 2 km, Lac Ludger just 2.4 km and Lac Violon at about 3 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Magnan

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and brook trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Anyone new to Lac Magnan should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -14°C and July at about 18°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about late November in an average year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lac Magnan.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Lac Arpin is 1.3 km distant. Check the position on Lac Magnan before loading the car.