Fishing at Lac Quelmes, Outaouais, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Quelmes is one of the Outaouais listings for Quebec. Elevation runs to 356 metres. The far bank is a conversation away, so keep low and quiet. On size it sits at the modest end of our Outaouais list. Saint-Boniface sits 48 km from here and is the nearest stop. After that come Maniwaki at 59 km and Saint-Raphaël at 70 km. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lac Quelmes

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Outaouais: pumpkinseed, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rainbow smelt and Iowa darter. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Lac Quelmes the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 18°C; by January the average is down near -16°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Lac Quelmes follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Lac de la Daraise, 0.6 km away, makes the obvious fallback. None of that is settled for Lac Quelmes in what we hold.