Fishing Lac McLennan in Laurentides, Quebec

• Overview

  Set in Laurentides, Lac McLennan is a Quebec water. It sits at 390 metres above sea level. About 9.91 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The perimeter is close to 42 km, and wind can be flat in one arm and rough in the next. Few waters listed in Laurentides are bigger. The nearest place of any size is Ferme-Neuve, 85 km away. The nearest city of size is Gatineau, 217 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac McLennan

  Our records hold no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Laurentides include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Anyone new to Lac McLennan should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 17°C, the coldest about -17°C. The ice season is long here and the open one short. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. Average temperatures cross freezing around early May in spring and again near mid November in autumn. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Lac McLennan fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lac Curey at 1.9 km is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Lac McLennan.