Lac Proudfoot in Lanaudière: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac Proudfoot is one of the Lanaudière waters in Quebec. The setting is northern bush. The water covers some 50 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline length is close to 5.3 km, and each section fishes a little differently. On our Lanaudière list it sits near the top for size. Manawan lies 41 km from the water. Trois-Rivières is the closest city, 210 km away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac Proudfoot

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Lanaudière, recorded fish 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 Proudfoot that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for July and -17°C for January. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. On average, early May opens the water and mid November closes it again. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It holds true on Lac Proudfoot more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Lac Du Tarte, 1.7 km away. Confirm before you fish Lac Proudfoot.