Lac Ouellet in Côte-Nord: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Côte-Nord, Quebec. The surface lies 291 metres up. It measures about 13 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 1.8 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The closest town, Hauterive, is 27 km away. After that come Baie-Comeau at 31 km and Chute-aux-Outardes at 31 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lac Ouellet

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Côte-Nord: logperch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Lac Ouellet the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 16°C and January about -16°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. In an average year the thaw lands around early May and the freeze near mid November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan any trip to Lac Ouellet around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the perch, a small jig tipped with worm, dropped along the edges, is hard to beat. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Lac du Marais is 0.6 km off. The position on Lac Ouellet is worth confirming on the day.