Lac Paul Fishing near Ferme-Neuve, Quebec

• Overview

  In Quebec, Lac Paul falls inside Laurentides. Height above sea level is 402 metres. About 4 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Ferme-Neuve lies 43 km from the water. The nearest city of size is Gatineau, 180 km away. Not far off: Lac Shooner 1.5 km away, Lac du Telephone (1.9 km), Lac Wilbrod 2.8 km away, Lac Simon (2.8 km) and Lac Louis 3.1 km away. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Lac Paul

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Laurentides include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and brook trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Lac Paul the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 17°C on average, January about -16°C. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. At Lac Paul the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Lac Shooner, 1.5 km away. The position on Lac Paul is worth confirming on the day.