Lac Proche, Quebec: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Lanaudière, Quebec, this is Lac Proche. The water sits 385 metres up. The far bank is a conversation away, so keep low and quiet. Our Lanaudière list holds plenty of bigger water. Saint-Michel-des-Saints lies 36 km from the water. Mandeville follows at 64 km, then Saint-Élie-de-Caxton at 68 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Proche

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Lanaudière include pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Lac Proche the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 17°C on average, January about -15°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The water is typically free of ice between late April and late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It holds true on Lac Proche more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Lac Donat is 0.6 km distant. Confirm access to Lac Proche locally before you travel.