Lac Philip near Saint-Raphaël: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Lac Philip falls in Outaouais, part of Quebec. It sits at 243 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 10 hectares — small enough to read in one session. 21 km away sits Saint-Raphaël, the nearest town. The big place round here is Gatineau, 97 km distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications. Around five months of sub-zero averages set the rhythm of the year.

• Where to Fish on Lac Philip

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Outaouais cover pumpkinseed, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The near bank of Lac Philip is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 18°C, while January sits near -14°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan any trip to Lac Philip around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Lac Louis is 1.4 km off. Ask locally about Lac Philip if anything is unclear.