Fishing Lac Philippe in Lanaudière, Quebec

• Overview

  Lanaudière in Quebec is where Lac Philippe sits. It lies 463 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 6 hectares — small enough to read in one session. Manawan sits 32 km from the bank. It is 139 km to Trois-Rivières, the nearest city. What else is close: Lac Gregoire sits 0.7 km out, Lac de la Dame 2 km away, Lac Paul-Emile sits 2.1 km out, Lac Sabert 2.7 km away and Lac Foligne sits 3.7 km out. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Philippe

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. 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. Open biodiversity records for Lanaudière list pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The near bank of Lac Philippe is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -16°C in January up to 17°C in July. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. The lid usually goes in early May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On average, early May opens the water and mid November closes it again. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to Lac Philippe by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Lac Gregoire at 0.7 km is the sensible second choice. For Lac Philippe, the notice at the access point is the final word.